SOURCE: “Household Lyrics, Ballads, Odes, Elegies, Sonnets,” in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Twayne Publishers, 1964, pp. 129-47.

In the following essay, Williams examines the scope of Longfellow's work, focusing on his lesser-known ballads, sonnets, odes, and elegies.

The land of Song within thee lies,           Watered by living springs; The lids of Fancy's sleepless eyes Are gates unto that Paradise; Holy thoughts, like stars arise;           Its clouds are angels' wings. 

Look, then, into thine heart, and write!           Yes, into Life's deep stream! All forms of sorrow and delight, All solemn Voices of the Night That can soothe thee, or affright,—           Be these henceforth thy theme. 

—“Prelude”

I General Observations About Longfellow as a Poet

We have seen that from early boyhood Longfellow wanted to be a poet and that by the time he had graduated from college the desire had intensified into a burning ambition. Just what qualifications, beyond the desire...