Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
America: Vols. XXV–XXIX. 1876–79.

Middle States: Tarrytown, N. Y.

In the Churchyard at Tarrytown

By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882)

HERE lies the gentle humorist, who died

In the bright Indian Summer of his fame!

A simple stone, with but a date and name,

Marks his secluded resting-place beside

The river that he loved and glorified.

Here in the autumn of his days he came,

But the dry leaves of life were all aflame

With tints that brightened and were multiplied.

How sweet a life was his; how sweet a death!

Living, to wing with mirth the weary hours,

Or with romantic tales the heart to cheer;

Dying, to leave a memory like the breath

Of summers full of sunshine and of showers,

A grief and gladness in the atmosphere.