Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

[morea]

I heard on NPR this morning that today is the anniversary of Longfellow's birth. He was born February 27, 1807, in Portland, Maine.

Longfellow is one of the best known American poets, and was among the first to write about American themes. He wrote about American scenes and landscape, the American Indian ('Song of Hiawatha'), and American history ('The Courtship of Miles Standish', 'Evangeline').

At the beginning of the 19th century, America had not yet developed much culture of its own. The people of America had spent their time and energy trying to survive in a new land and fighting for independence. Literature, art, and music came mainly from Europe (especially England). Longfellow's writings helped to shape American culture.

My favorite of his poems is called "The Rainy Day", which follows:

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the moldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

[greyghost]

I LOVE that poem! I know it by heart!
HWL is one of my favorite poets. :)

[morea]

I know that one by heart, too. I also like Emily Dickenson, Henry David Thoreau, and Robert Frost.

[greyghost]

All exellent poets. :)

[morea]

There's just something about poetry that speaks to you on a different level than normal. Here's another Longfellow poem that is quite nice:

WOODS IN WINTER

When winter winds are piercing chill,
And through the hawthorn blows the gale,
With solemn feet I tread the hill,
That overbrows the lonely vale.

O'er the bare upland, and away
Through the long reach of desert woods,
The embracing sunbeams chastely play,
And gladden these deep solitudes.

Where, twisted round the barren oak,
The summer vine in beauty clung,
And summer winds the stillness broke,
The crystal icicle is hung.

Where, from their frozen urns, mute springs
Pour out the river's gradual tide,
Shrilly the skater's iron rings,
And voices fill the woodland side.

Alas! how changed from the fair scene,
When birds sang out their mellow lay,
And winds were soft, and woods were green,
And the song ceased not with the day!

But still wild music is abroad,
Pale, desert woods! within your crowd;
And gathering winds, in hoarse accord,
Amid the vocal reeds pipe loud.

Chill airs and wintry winds! my ear
Has grown familiar with your song;
I hear it in the opening year,
I listen, and it cheers me long.

[Logo-Mechanix]

I know a few poems, but forum rules prohibit me from reciting them. I like "The Rainy Day" poem also its one of my favorites.

[morea]

actually, there is a poetry section in NSFW if you want to post your poems THERE (http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10009), lm. ;)

of course, so far I think it's all work safe, go figure. :D

[greyghost]

The only other poem that I actually know by heart anymore is "O Captain My Captain"

[morea]

I'm not familiar with that one - I know I've read it, but it's not ringing a bell at the moment.

I like this one by Thoreau:

Indeed, indeed, I cannot tell
Though I ponder on it well,
Which were easier to state;
All my love or all my hate.

Surely, surely, thou wilt trust me
When I say thou dost disgust me.
O, I hate thee with a hate
That would fain annihilate;

Yet sometimes against my will,
My dear friend, I love thee still.
It were treason to our love,
And a sin to God above,
One iota to abate
Of a pure impartial hate.

lots of emotion in that poem.

[Jason Fraker]

billly collins is a good poet, too.