A Psalm of Life

"A Psalm of Life" is a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Composition and publication history

Longfellow wrote the poem shortly after completing lectures on German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and was heavily inspired by him. He was also inspired to write it by a heartfelt conversation he had with friend and fellow professor at Harvard University Cornelius Conway Felton; the two had spent an evening "talking of matters, which lie near one's soul:–and how to bear one's self doughtily in Life's battle: and make the best of things". [Thompson, Lawrance. "Young Longfellow (1807–1843)". New York: The Macmillan Company,1938: 267.] The next day, he wrote "A Psalm of Life".

The poem was first published in "The Knickerbocker" attributed only to "L." Longfellow was promised five dollars for its publication, though he never received payment. [Cody, Sherwin. " [http://books.google.com/books?id=KsdEAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Sherwin+Cody&client=firefox-a#PPT1,M1 Four American Poets: William Cullen Bryant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendell Holmes; a Book for Young Americans] ". New York: Werner School Book Company, 1899: 106–107. Accessed August 12, 2008] "A Psalm of Life" and other early poems by Longfellow, including "The Village Blacksmith" and "The Wreck of the Hesperus", were collected and published as "Voices of the Night" in 1839. [Calhoun, Charles C. "Longfellow: A Rediscovered Life". Boston: Beacon Press, 2004: 137–139. ISBN 0807070262.] This volume sold for 75 cents. [Irmscher, Christoph. "Longfellow Redux". Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2006: 54. ISBN 978-0-252-07586-5]

References