John Whittier
John Whittier
John Greenleaf Whittierwas an American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Frequently listed as one of the Fireside Poets, he was influenced by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. Whittier is remembered particularly for his anti-slavery writings as well as his book Snow-Bound...
american-poet dull nature rigid school torture unknown weary wild
Unknown to her the rigid rule, the dull restraint, the chiding frown, the weary torture of the school, the taming of wild nature down.
era meet opening thank thee
We meet todayTo thank Thee for the era done,And Thee for the opening one
beneath faith fall rock steps void
Nothing before, nothing behind; the steps of faith fall on the seeming void and find the rock beneath
might sad saddest tongue words
For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ''It might have been!''
joy others year
For somehow, not only at Christmas, but all the long year through, The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.
blessing christmas joy lonely others poor returns spend year
Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, The joy that you give to others Is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing The poor and lonely and sad, The more of your heart's possessing Returns to you glad.
alone lost restore woman
If woman lost us Eden, such as she alone can restore it
against born fashion manliness poor sees
How dwarfed against his manliness she sees the poor pretension, the wants, the aims, the follies, born of fashion and convention!
follow lands strangest
Of all that Orient lands can vaunt, of marvels with our own competing, the strangest is the Haschish plant, and what will follow on its eating.
might pen sad saddest tongue words
Of all sad words of tongue and pen the saddest are these, what might have been.
best forward good grateful hope longer nor
No longer forward nor behind, I look in hope or fear; But grateful take the good I find, The best of now and here.
blest hers
No lance have I, in joust or fight, To splinter in my lady's sight; But, at her feet, how blest were I For any need of hers to die!