Alex Posey
Alexander Lawrence Posey (Creek/Muskogee) was born and raised in the Creek Nation and was the most recognized Native American author of his day. He grew up speaking Creek until age 14, when his father demanded that he speak English. In 1896 he married Minnie Harris, and had three children: Yahola Irving, Pachina Kipling, and Wynema Torrans. In 1908 he drowned during a flood of the Oktahutche River, which some scholars have noted seems to be eerily anticipated by his poem "My Fancy." After his death, Minnie Posey published a collection of his poems, though he remains better known for his Fus Fixico letters which were serially published, recently collected in 1993. It is important to note that some scholars think that Minnie's publication of these poems involved inaccurate transcription or heavy editing. Therefore, it is important to consider the poems published here as co-written by Minnie and Alex.