William Cullen Bryant
1794–1878
Best-known poems
-
Thanatopsis
To him who in the love of Nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various language; for his gayer hours … -
To a Waterfowl
whither, midst falling dew,
While glow the heavens with the last steps of day,
Far, through their rosy depths, dost thou pursue … -
A Forest Hymn
The groves were God’s first temples. Ere man learned
To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave,
And spread the roof above them—ere he framed … -
To the Fringed Gentian
Thou blossom bright with autumn dew,
And colored with the heaven’s own blue,
That openest when the quiet light … -
Blessed are They that Mourn
Oh, deem not they are blest alone
Whose lives a peaceful tenor keep;
The Power who pities man, has shown …
All poems (39)
A 5
B 1
F 1
I 1
J 1
M 1
O 3
R 1
S 1
T 20
- ThanatopsisTo him who in the love of Nature holds
- The Antiquity of FreedomHere are old trees, tall oaks, and gnarlëd pines,
- The Battle-FieldOnce this soft turf, this rivulet ’s sands,
- The Conqueror's GraveWithin this lowly grave a Conqueror lies,
- The Conqueror’s GraveWithin this lowly grave a Conqueror lies,
- The Crowded StreetLet me move slowly through the street,
- The Death of SlaveryO thou great Wrong, that, through the slow-paced years,
- The Death of the FlowersThe melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year,
- The Evening WindSpirit that breathest through my lattice, thou
- The Flood of YearsA mighty Hand, from an exhaustless Urn,
- The Future LifeHow shall I know thee in the sphere which keeps
- The Hunter of the PrairiesAy, this is freedom!—these pure skies
- The HurricaneLORD of the winds! I feel thee nigh,
- The May Sun Sheds an Amber LightOn new-leaved woods and lawns between;
- The Pastthou unrelenting Past!
- The Planting of the Apple-Treecome, let us plant the apple-tree.
- The PoetThou, who wouldst wear the name
- The Snow-ShowerStand here by my side and turn, I pray,
- To a Waterfowlwhither, midst falling dew,
- To the Fringed GentianThou blossom bright with autumn dew,
