Shaemas O'Sheel (September 19, 1886 – April 2, 1954) was an Irish American poet and critic. Born James Shields[1], he changed his name to an anglicized spelling of its Irish version soon after high school.[2] He worked briefly for the United States Senate (1913-1916), held jobs with various newspapers, and did publicity and advertising work. Although third-generation[3] Irish American and never visiting Ireland[1], he was active in the Irish independence movement. He was, in his own words, "a very ardent communist and a staunch supporter of the Soviet Union" [4]. However, because he disagreed with Soviet foreign policy, many communist publications (such as New Masses) refused to publish his work.
As a member of the League of American Writers, O'Sheel served on its Keep America Out of War Committee in January 1940 during the period of the Hitler-Stalin pact.[5]
O'Sheel's published poetry collections include The Blossomy Bough (1912) and The Light Feet of Goats (1915).[6] Louis Untermeyer characterized O'Sheel's poetry as possessing "mysticism and a muffled heroism".[7] O'Sheel's work also appeared in the New York Times, the New York Times Book Review, Harper's, and other national publications.