Frederick Goddard Tuckerman



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.

Sourced
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.
 * Then cricket sing thy song, or answer mine
 * "The Cricket" lines 120–131

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, from the school's sway
 * "How oft in schoolboy-days" lines 1–6, Poems, 1860

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?
 * Why hold ye so my heart, nor dimly let
 * "Dank fens of cedar, hemlock branches gray" lines 6–14, Poems, 1860