Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — People

A small wooden windmill leans in dry grass beneath a cloudy grey sky. — Original artwork

A boy’s will is the wind’s will, And the thoughts of youth are long, long thoughts.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

An open music box with a ribbon of silver light rising from it on a plum cloth. — Original artwork

And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A brass sphere and silver crescent hanging on wires above cloth that fades from light to dark, with tiny beads. — Original artwork

Between the dark and the daylight, When the night is beginning to lower, Comes a pause in the day’s occupation, That is known as the Children’s Hour.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A wooden gift box tied with a sea-green ribbon, its raised lid revealing golden light against a dusky landscape. — Original artwork

But the great Master said, “I see No best in kind, but in degree; I gave a various gift to each, To charm, to strengthen, and to teach.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A brass megaphone sends out radiating golden light above red cloth against deep crimson. — Original artwork

God sent his Singers upon earth With songs of sadness and of mirth, That they might touch the hearts of men, And bring them back to heaven again.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A closed leather pouch beside an open pouch holding a grey feather on blue cloth. — Original artwork

If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A small wooden door stands ajar with warm golden light and a pale feather visible in the opening against dark blue. — Original artwork

I hear in the chamber above me The patter of little feet, The sound of a door that is opened, And voices soft and sweet.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Painterly rain-streaked window overlooking wet pavement, with a small cup and plant on the sill. — Original artwork

Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

An arrow hangs above a forked path through a misty landscape beneath a dusky blue-and-gold sky. — Original artwork

I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A small aged brass hourglass with almost no sand left in the top, casting a long soft shadow on a dark blue background. — Original artwork

Look not mournfully into the Past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the Present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy Future, without fear, and with a manly heart.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Plum fountain pen across blank cream paper hearts with a small ink stain, plus small plum flowers — Original artwork

Look, then, into thine heart, and write!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A small wooden lyre stands beside an open blank book and dried flowers against a twilight-purple background. — Original artwork

Music is the universal language of mankind — poetry their universal pastime and delight.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A wilted pale flower rests on an empty wooden chair in a softly lit blue room. — Original artwork

Never here, forever there, Where all parting, pain, and care, And death, and time shall disappear,— Forever there, but never here! The horologe of Eternity Sayeth this incessantly,— “Forever — never! Never — forever!”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Gift box with gathered untied raspberry ribbon — Original artwork

No man is so poor as to have nothing worth giving. Give what you have. To someone it may be better than you dare to think.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A small wooden cabinet with compartments each holding a thimble, spoon, button or key. — Original artwork

Nothing useless is, or low; Each thing in its place is best; And what seems but idle show Strengthens and supports the rest.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sunlight and dust streaming through a narrow crack in a dark plaster wall. — Original artwork

The grave itself is but a covered bridge, Leading from light to light, through a brief darkness!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A small spiral staircase with a curved brass railing rises toward a peach cloud against pale blue. — Original artwork

The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight, But they, while their companions slept, Were toiling upward in the night.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A dark leather sheath lies beside a wilted red rose and a round silver medallion on black velvet. — Original artwork

There is a Reaper, whose name is Death, And, with his sickle keen, He reaps the bearded grain at a breath, And the flowers that grow between.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Painterly two toy soldiers on scorched ground, one standing and one fallen, beneath a smoky sky. — Original artwork

The warriors that fought for their country, and bled, Have sunk to their rest; the damp earth is their bed; No stone tells the place where their ashes repose, Nor points out the spot from the graves of their foes.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Time has laid his hand Upon my heart, gently, not smiting it, But as a harper lays his open palm Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A purple wildflower grows through a brass tuning fork planted in moss beside a small feather. — Original artwork

Ye are better than all the ballads That ever were sung or said; For ye are living poems, And all the rest are dead.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow