Author Archives: Strickland Gillilan

Strickland Gillilan

Strickland Gillilan (1869-1954) was an American humorist, novelist, lecturer, and poet. Born in Ohio, Strickland started out as a journalist and worked for several different newspapers, including the Washington Post. While on staff at the Richmond Daily Palladium, he wrote a humorous poem about an Irish railroader that ended up in Life Magazine and led to swift national acclaim. Credited with writing the world's shortest poem ("Lines on the Antiquity of Microbes”… subtitled "Fleas": Adam/Had 'em), Strickland produced a huge body of work during his lifetime. He traveled across the U.S. for years, entertaining enthralled audiences by reading from his witty novels, satirical essays, and heartwarming poetry.