Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an e · Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I heard the trailing garments of the Night Sweep t

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul.

Life Past and Future Soul

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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1807-02-27 — 1882-03-24 · Portland

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator, celebrated for his lyrical verse and narrative poems. His work often drew inspiration from mythology, history, and American folklore, making complex themes accessible to a wide audience. He became one of the most popular poets of his time, both in the United States and abroad, though his literary reputation has evolved over the years. Longfellow's poems frequently explored themes of heroism, domestic life, and the passage of time. His accessible style and moralistic undertones resonated deeply with Victorian sensibilities, cementing his status as a beloved literary figure. Despite later critical re-evaluations, his contributions to American literature and his role in shaping national identity through verse remain significant.