Comment 67 of 98, added on April 12th, 2006 at 6:34 AM.

H.W.Longfellow has long been one of my favourite poets. His style
encompasses thought and rhyme to perfection. This poem in particular, has
always impressed me, for its deep insight into human existence. I concur
with the poet when he says that " Something Attempted, Something done, has
earned a night's repose." This line embodies the basic tenet of life, why
we struggle in the world every day, for at the end of the day it is to
acheive contentment, which translates into a night's repose. A beautiful
thought indeed!

Vasanth Srinivasa from India

Comment 65 of 98, added on March 28th, 2006 at 4:05 PM.

deep

Jack Billows from United States

Comment 63 of 98, added on February 27th, 2006 at 10:56 AM.

I learned this poem sometime in the 1930's. It always meant a lot to me
because my paternal grandfather was a blacksmith. He died when I was five,
but the poem seems to fit my few memories of him, especially the physical
description. Good stuff! I have a painting by Paul Detlefsen which was
obviously patterned after the poem: the blacksmith shop, the chestnut tree,
the barefoot boy watching, the horse waiting to be shoed, etc. It's one of
my favorite paintings!

David Neiswender from United States

Comment 61 of 98, added on February 22nd, 2006 at 3:05 PM.

You might be interested in this song about a blacksmith, by Jake Thackray.
http://www.jakethackray.co.uk/content/view/106/26/

Songwriter, yes, but his songs are pure poetry. The story comes from an
anecdote told by Laurie Lee in his autobiography, Cider with Rosie.

David

David McGovern

Comment 59 of 98, added on December 16th, 2005 at 2:05 PM.

A short comment to Jerry Stork..yes Jerry, that picture does actually
exist. My Mother had a copy as well as my Aunt. Both are gone today, and I
wish I had one of them. Whether or not that particular picture was supposed
to depict the image of "The Village Blacksmith" or not is unknown to me,
however my Mom and Aunt seemed to indicate it was. Both my Aunt and Mother
were lovers of such poetry as this.

I also learned it as a school project..it was not assigned, but rather the
class was asked to learn a poem over the Christmas Holiday..this would have
been about 1941 or `42, some 60+ years ago. I will never forget the poems
read after we came back to class..several of the quaint "Roses are
red..Violets are blue" types, plus a few created by the individuals.. I
recited The Village Blacksmith. The teacher was flabbergasted.. I believe
this was the 4th grade.

I had forgotten some of the poem stanzas, and came looking for a copy to
refresh my memory. (Kind of dim now at age 75)LOL

Rob Chancey from United States