Major Henry Livingston

The IX Ode to Horace

HORACE. While I was pleasing to your arms, Nor any youth, of happier charms, Thy snowy bosom blissful prest, Not Portia’s like me was blest. LYDIA. While for no other fair you burn’d, Nor

To My Little Niece Anne Duyckinck

To his charming black-eyed niece Uncle Harry wishest peace! Wishes roses over strow’d O’er her sublunary road! No rude winds around her howl, O’er her head no tempests scowl; No red lightnings flash around,

To My Little Niece Sally Livingston

To my little niece Sally Livingston, on the death of a little serenading wren she admired. Hasty pilgrim stop thy pace Turn a moment to this place Read what pity hath erected To a

An Elegy on the Death of Montgomery Tappen

An elegy on the death of MONTGOMERY TAPPEN who dies at Poughkeepsie on the 20th of Nov. 1784 in the ninth year of his age. The sweetest, gentlest, of the youthful train, Here lies

1819 New Year's Carrier's Address

Believe me, dear patrons, I have wand’red too far, Without any compass, or planet or star; My dear native village I scarcely can see So I’ll hie to my hive like the tempest-tost bee.

To the Memory of Henry Welles Livingston

A gentle spirit now above Once animated what lies here Till heav’n announc’d in tenderest love “Ascend Immortal to yon sphere.” The lambkin at the great behest Gave up its life without one groan;

The Crane & The Fox, a Fable

In long gone years a fox and crane Were bound in friendship’s golden chain; Whene’er they met, the fox would bow And madame Crane would curtsie low- -My lovely Crane how do you do?

Hiding Place

Hail sov’reign love that first began, The scheme to rescue fallen man; Hail matchless, free, eternal grace, That gave my soul a Hiding-Place. Against the God that rules the sky, I fought with hands

The Dance

Take the name of the swain, a forlorn witless elf Who was chang’d to a flow’r for admiring himself. A part deem’d essential in each lady’s dress With what maidens cry when they wish

To the Memory of Sarah Livingston

BEYOND where billows roll or tempests vex Is gone the gentlest of the gentle sex! – Her brittle bark on life’s wild ocean tost Unequal to the conflict soon was lost. Severe her sufferings!

Careless Philosopher's Soliloquy

I rise when I please, when I please I lie down, Nor seek, what I care not a rush for, renown; The rattle called wealth I have learnt to despise, Nor aim to be

The Vine & Oak, A Fable

A vine from noblest lineage sprung And with the choicest clusters hung, In purple rob’d, reclining lay, And catch’d the noontide’s fervid ray; The num’rous plants that deck the field Did all the palm

Acknowledgement

With the ladies’ permission, most humbly I’d mention How much we’re obliged by all their attention; We sink with the weight of the huge obligation Too long & too broad to admit compensation. For

Epithalamium: A Marriage Poem

‘Twas summer, when softly the breezes were blowing, And Hudson majestic so sweetly was flowing, The groves rang with music & accents of pleasure And nature in rapture beat time to the measure, When

A Tenant of Mrs. Van Kleeck

My very good landlady, Mistress Van Kleeck, (For the tears that o’erwhelm me I scarcely can speak) I know that I promis’d you hogs two or three (But who knows his destiny? Certain not

Letter Sent to Master Timmy Dwight

Master Timmy brisk and airy Blythe as Oberon the fairy On thy head thy cousin wishes Thousand and ten thousand blisses. Never may thy wicket ball In a well or puddle fall; Or thy

Apostrophe

Of RISPAH. (who had been the concubine of King SAUL) when DAVID hanged her children, because their father had done amiss. From morn to eve from eve to rosy morn, On this bleak rock

Account of a Visit From ST. Nicholas

“Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro’ the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon

The Procession

The legislators pass along A solemn, self-important throng! Just raised from the common mass, They feel themselves another class. But let them in the sunshine play For every dog must have his day. There

On my Sister Joanna's Entrance into Her 33rd Year

On this thy natal day permit a friend – A brother – with thy joys his own to blend: In all gladness he would wish to share As willing in thy griefs a part

Acrostic Eliza Hughes

E v’ry grace in her combine, L ove and truth and friendship join, I n one source without reserve, Z ealous all her friends to serve, A nd diffuse true harmony. H appy nymph

Dialogue

Children Pray dearest mother if you please Cut up your double-curded cheese, The oldest of the brotherhood. It’s ripe, no doubt and nicely good! Your reputation will rise treble As we the lucious morsel