Frederick Goddard Tuckerman

American poet

Frederick Goddard Tuckerman (February 4, 1821 – May 9, 1873) was an American poet. He gave up a law practice to pursue studies in astronomy, botany, and literature. He was recognized as an authority on local flora.

Frederick Goddard Tuckerman

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  • Then cricket sing thy song, or answer mine
    Thine whispers blame, but mine has naught but praises
    It matters not. — Behold the autumn goes,
    The Shadow grows,
    The moments take hold of eternity;
    Even while we stop to wrangle or repine
    Our lives are gone
    Like thinnest mist,
    Like yon escaping colour in the tree: —
    Rejoice! rejoice! whilst yet the hours exist
    Rejoice or mourn, and let the world swing on
    Unmoved by Cricket-song of thee or me.
  • How oft in schoolboy-days, from the school's sway
    Have I run forth to Nature as to a friend, —
    With some pretext of o'erwrought sight, to spend
    My school-time in green meadows far away!
    Careless of summoning bell, or clocks that strike,
    I marked with flowers the minutes of my day.
    • "How oft in schoolboy-days" lines 1–6, Poems, 1860
  • Why hold ye so my heart, nor dimly let
    Through your deep leaves the light of yesterday,
    The faded glimmer of a sunshine set?
    Is it that in your darkness, shut from strife,
    The bread of tears becomes the bread of life?
    Far from the roar of day, beneath your boughs
    Fresh griefs beat tranquilly, and loves and vows
    Grow green in your gray shadows, dearer far
    Even than all lovely lights and roses are?
    • "Dank fens of cedar, hemlock branches gray" lines 6–14, Poems, 1860
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