Gulfport Journalist's Navy Poems Surface

A collection of poetry written by George Brann during his service in the U.S. Navy has come to light.

Brann founded the Gulfport Gabber in 1968. The publication launched with a specific goal to hold the Gulfport City Council accountable to the local community.

Earlier this year, a descendant of Brann shared a group of poems found among his personal papers. The outlet stated it had previously been unaware that the founder was also a poet. The discovery offered a new perspective on the man behind the newspaper.

The verses were composed while Brann served in the Navy. They focus on themes of love, longing, and the difficulty of being separated from home. The poems suggest that the journalist who built a media outlet to amplify community voices also maintained a deep personal life.

One poem titled "Goodnight" describes a slow evening on a distant land. The speaker observes the twilight and the appearance of stars. He notes that the sea rolls into the shore and the breeze rises. The clock ticks past the hour as the lights fade. The speaker searches for one bright star and sees the face of his loved one in it. He ends the verse by saying goodnight with love.

In another piece titled "I MISS YOU," Brann describes being alone beneath a star-lit sky. The waves rush to the beach and crickets sing. A reflection is visible on the water. Music plays on the radio, creating a scene suitable for a couple. The speaker prays for his loved one each night. He states that he will love the person for his life. The poem concludes with the waves rolling in and the stars growing bright.

A third poem, "DREAMS," opens with the end of the day and the prime of evening. The speaker searches the sky for a star to make a wish. He wishes to be back with his loved one to hold them in his arms. He mentions writing a letter to the U.S., far away. The day was hard and no mail arrived. The sun shone bright. The speaker goes to bed and closes his eyes. In his dream, he sees his loved one, talks about future plans, and walks through streets with streetlights. Upon waking, he feels cold. He compares the feeling to holding a stone he thought was gold. He notes that every night is the same and that he will see his loved one in his dreams.

An untitled poem describes taking a shot of starlight and chasing it with the moon. Christmas is a week away. The month of December feels like June. A breeze comes from the sea and flowers bloom. The speaker imagines his loved one in a wedding gown and himself as the groom. He feels high and hears a favorite tune. The whisky is the starlight and the chaser is the moon. He walks on air and misses his loved one day and night. He dreams from taps to reveille. The speaker advises that to fall in love, one should be crazy and take a shot of starlight.

A final poem, "MY FRIENDLY CABIN," describes a small cabin beside a stream. The speaker envisions living in peace with his loved one and fulfilling every dream. A turning road leads to home, which he calls his heaven on earth. Wealth cannot express how much the home is worth. He envisions a life with his loved one and a baby, making three. They would have friends to spend the day with and happy married couples living nearby. The speaker gives his heart to his loved one. He longs to say "I do" and "till death do us part." He states that the cabin is all theirs if the loved one says yes. It would seem lovely to have the person in the cabin beside the stream.

The poems are signed by G.W. Brann, G. W. Brann, George W. Brann, and G.W.Brann. Each signature is followed by the notation U.S. Navy. The outlet is sharing these works this Veterans Day to honor the memory of the newspaper's founder.