Vintage Colorado Poetry / Poem of the Week / February 6, 2006 / Black History Month
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	Katherine Davis Chapman Tillman (Katie D. Tillman) grew up in Yankton, South Dakota, in the late 19th century. She believed in poetry as a spiritual and moral teaching tool. "My Ships" is such a  poem.
						Post Office. Chapelton (Dearfield), Weld County, Colorado [circa 1920-1930] Credit: Western History / Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library.
				My Ships Three ships I sent across the sea--- Faith, and Hope, and Charity--- Off they flew o'er the bounding main, But only one came back again. Dashed 'gainst the shores of Unbelief, A moment stood in stern relief, Then sunk beneath Disaster's wave Was faith, he confident and brave ! Hope cheered my heart for many a day, So proudly sailed she on her way ; But, overwhelmed by stormy seas, Left Love alone to stem the breeze. In vain the storm-blast on the deck : Some unseen power held in check Withstands the stormy winds of Life, And Love is victor in the strife !                      --Katie D. Tillman First published: African Methodist Episcopal Church Review (Vol. 9, Num. 2), October 1, 1892.