Tim Lole

Myra Viola Wilds was born in Kentucky. She authored the poetry collection Thoughts of Idle Hours in her own hand after losing her eyesight due to overwork as a dressmaker. In the preface to the book, she writes:
'I send out my first litle book, "Thoughts of Idle Hours," trusting it may find kind, considerate friends. Should I live to finish the second edition, I hope it will be a great improvement over this my first, I was born at Mount Ollie, Ky., a little country place. I lost my eye- sight from overwork and eye strain at my occupation, dressmaking, in the year 1911. For three years afterwards, I went through a very severe illness. On March 10th, 1914, at 3 a. m. I awoke out of a sound sleep and wrote my first poem, "Sunshine." In eleven months and seven- teen days afterwards, I had written the contents of this book. The question has often been asked, who writes your thoughts for you, since you are blind? I will an- swer here. Every line and verse in this little volume has been composed and written with my own hand notwith- standing the loss of my eyesight.
A copy of each verse I retain in my own handwriting, after this, they are copied in a book by my husband. I beg your kind consideration of the plain, simple verses herein:
I do not seek Wealth, Fame or Place, Among the great ones of my race, But, I would pen in letters bold! Some thoughts! perhaps to cheer the soul