Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a 19th century American poet and educator. Wikipedia tells me he was the first American to complete a full translation of Dante's Divine Comedy and he was one of the so-called Fireside Poets of New England, a hugely popular set of 19th century poets who became the first Americans to really rival English poets in popularity.

That status — the poet of the common man or woman — owes much to poems like this one. “The Day is Done” is not only not grand, it actively campaigns against grand poetry.

It says, please don’t give me grand poetry that’s all energy and endeavour, when all I want is something to chase away the stresses of the day.

This is poetry that’s much closer to an everyday prayer, or a song to singalong to.

A century and a half after it was written, it can still play that role.

You can read the poem here

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