“What a writer asks of his reader is not so
much to like as to listen.” -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Longfellow may be
the only poet to ever have a rock song written about him. Neil Diamond's 1974
hit "Longfellow Serenade," echoing the
reverence people had for the man when he was living in the mid-19th
Century.
Born on this date in 1807, Longfellow wrote many lyric poems
not just known for their musicality but also for presenting stories of mythology
and legend, including the renowned Song of Hiawatha and the favorite of school
children almost from its first day, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.
He was the most popular American poet
of his day and also had success overseas, so admired that his poems commanded huge fees and young people turned out to welcome him much like rock stars of today. His 70th birthday took on the air of a national holiday, with parades, speeches, and
the reading of his poetry.
Although a “rock star” at the end, the
beginning of his career started more slowly.
“Overnight success” didn’t come until he’d been writing for more than 20
years. 
“Perserverance is a great element
of success,” he said. “If you only knock
long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody
eventually.”
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