James J. Metcalfe

James J. Metcalfe (September 16, 1906 – March 1960) was an American poet whose "Daily Poem Portraits" were published in more than 100 United States newspapers during the 1940s and 1950s.

Prior to his literary career, he served as a Special Agent for the FBI, where he aided in the ambush of gangster John Dillinger, and also as a reporter for the Chicago Daily Times newspaper.

Soon after completing law school, Metcalfe joined the FBI's Chicago Bureau, where he participated in operations against several Midwestern gangsters, including Ma Barker, Pretty Boy Floyd, and John Dillinger.

Metcalfe wrote hundreds of short poems about the human condition that appealed to people across a vast spectrum of careers and backgrounds.

Metcalfe mused about love, friendship, life, religion, time, old age, youth, candy, vacations, holidays, envy and numerous other subjects.

In his later years, Metcalfe delighted in retelling, not merely the poems for which he had become famous, but also stories of his FBI and reporter days, including his experiences with several notorious American mobsters.

James J. Metcalfe, in a collage of FBI Special Agents from 1934. His poem, "We Were the G-Men," may be seen at center. Metcalf is at center in the far left column.