Miller, Joaquin, << wah KEEN >> (1837-1913), was an American poet who wrote about the West. Today, he is better known for his colorful, adventurous life than for the literary quality of his writing. In his poems, Miller intended to praise Americans and their vast new country. A few of his poems were once popular, notably “Alaska,” “Crossing the Plains,” and “Columbus.” But critics no longer take his verse seriously. They consider his style flat and conventional and his technique severely limited.
Miller was born in Liberty, Ind. His real name was Cincinnatus Hiner Miller. He took the first name Joaquin after writing a poem defending the Mexican bandit Joaquin Murieta. Miller’s family moved to Oregon in 1852. According to his own exaggerated account of his life, his “cradle was a covered wagon, pointed west.” In Oregon, Miller began a series of exploits that included gold mining and living with the Digger Indians. He also visited England, where his collection Songs of the Sierras (1871) was enthusiastically praised. Miller also wrote novels, plays, and the autobiography Life Among the Modocs (1873).
