The leaves of memory seemed to make A mournful rustling in the dark. — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow · Smartyfair

The leaves of memory seemed to make A mournful rustling in the dark.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow1807–1882 · poet · 1800s USAHenry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet whose story-poems, like Paul Revere's Ride and The Song of Hiawatha, were memorized and recited in homes and schoolrooms across America.41 quotes

Source found

Look up a word

Where these words come from

How sure this is: 85% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up: The Fire of Drift-wood.; Bartlett, Familiar Quotations, ninth edition, Henry W. Longfellow entry; The Fire of Drift-wood.; Wording and named work checked in Bartlett’s published reference; literary quotations are excerpts. Source identifies the work and locator.
Work: The Fire of Drift-wood.
Sources checked: gutenberg.orgChecked using manual, 17 October 2026The Fire of Drift-wood.; Bartlett, Familiar Quotations, ninth edition, Henry W. Longfellow entry; The Fire of Drift-wood.; Wording and named work checked in Bartlett’s published reference; literary quotations are excerpts. Source identifies the work and locator.

Nothing made from these words yet — Storyfaire is where they get made.

More from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Music is the universal language of mankind.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Oh, fear not in a world like this, And thou shalt know erelong,— Know how sublime a thing it is To suffer and be strong.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The hooded clouds, like friars, Tell their beads in drops of rain.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow No tears Dim the sweet look that Nature wears.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow For Time will teach thee soon the truth, There are no birds in last year's nest!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

More inspiration

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.

Eleanor Roosevelt No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Eleanor Roosevelt Little strokes fell great oaks.

Benjamin Franklin Energy and persistence conquer all things.

Benjamin Franklin Well done is better than well said.

Benjamin Franklin If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

Frederick Douglass