'Knocking loud enough and long enough to be heard'

 

“What a writer asks of his reader is not somuch to like as to listen.” -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Longfellow may bethe only poet to ever have a rock song written about him.  Neil Diamond's 1974hit "Longfellow Serenade," echoing thereverence people had for the man when he was living in the mid-19thCentury.
Born on this date in 1807, Longfellow wrote many lyric poemsnot just known for their musicality but also for presenting stories of mythologyand legend, including the renowned Song of Hiawatha and the favorite of schoolchildren almost from its first day, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere.     He was the most popular American poetof 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, andthe reading of his poetry. 
Although a “rock star” at the end, thebeginning of his career started more slowly. “Overnight success” didn’t come until he’d been writing for more than 20years.  [image error]
“Perserverance is a great elementof success,” he said.  “If you only knocklong enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebodyeventually.”