To know him is to love him.
Or so say recent scholars of the now famous Portland native, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow-a Bowdoin College graduate and professor-who went on to teach at Harvard, translate Dante, and become known as "Poet of the Heart.
" So here then are valentines from those who have studied the life of Longfellow: Valentines: 1.
Christoph Irmscher, Professor of English, Indiana University, Author of two 2006 books, "Longfellow Redux" and "Public Poet, Private Man": "If I have learned anything from Longfellow it is to not insist too much on the importance of myself to the rest of the world.
Throughout Longfellow's life, he was reluctant to use 'that objectionable pronoun" I.
"I also admire Longfellow's non-traditional involvement in his children's lives, his pacifism, his commitment to civil rights and freedom.
"In addition, Longfellow's cosmopolitanism has particular meaning at a time when ignorance about other cultures and languages has impoverished our lives.
Longfellow spoke nine languages fluently and read another eight with ease; these days, most of our students are struggling to learn one 'foreign' language.
The alternative vision of America that Longfellow represents, at least in my opinion, is a nation whose motto would be "Out of the many, many.
" "In theological terms, Longfellow provides an answer to what Genesis describes as the disaster of Babel: a world in which the confusion of tongues is not a tragedy but an opportunity.
" 2.
Peter Hall, Tour Guide, Longfellow House, Portland "Even though Longfellow had a life of tremendous difficulties, sorrow, and depression, he was a wonderful friend and colleague.
He also had the ability to transcend his own sorrow to look after others.
For example, he made plans to continue to support this house even after his death.
" 3.
Claudia Knox, Co-chair of Longfellow Days, Brunswick: "The role Longfellow chose for himself was consistent with the way he saw himself as a private man of conscience and charity and the way he saw himself as public poet to the nation.
I find this completely fascinating: the challenges of conscience, social change/advocacy, and resistance to change and real personal risk, the need for social wholeness and healing.
Where does one fit into these currents in one's own time, whether the challenge is abolition, Vietnam, women's rights, civil right or global warming .
.
.
?" 4.
Daniel Noel, Portland Actor and Playwright: "Longfellow: A Life in Words," Portland Stage Company "To me, Longfellow represents much of what I find good in humanity.
His abundant goodness and decency shine through his journals and correspondence as well as his poetry.
This dual nature of being a good person and an educator with the need to share and enlighten his fellow travelers inspires me.
His responsibility as an artist never took second place to his responsibility to his friends .
.
.
Art and life seem as one to him and that importance of an artist's place in the world-apart yet part of-holds true today.
I find him to be one of the great relevant communicators still.
" 5.
Dana Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, D.
C.
"Longfellow had a way of writing that appealed to all classes, all races and religions.
He gave us a very democratic view of art.
He taught us that art can be both excellent and inclusive.
On the world stage he held liberal and progressive views which still hold up today.
"What artists such as Longfellow do for politicians is to remind them of higher principles, rather to argue practicality.
Lincoln read Longfellow's "Building of the Ship" to his cabinet.
And Churchill went on the radio during World War II to share it.
An artist needs to follow his own genius.
And Longfellow did that.
"