Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Asian Cobb Salad

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ( February 27, 1807-March 4, 1882) was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline. He was also the first American to translate Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy and was one of the five Fireside Poets.

Longfellow became a national literary figure by the 1850s, and a world-famous personality by the time of his death in 1882. He was a traveler, a linguist, and a romantic who identified with the great traditions of European literature and thought. At the same time, he was rooted in American life and history, which charged his imagination with untried themes and made him ambitious for success.

He had three daughters, one son and married twice. After his second wife died in a tragic fire he raised his children by himself and valued his time spent with them. This poem reflects his love of his children.

Look up his biography which gives an explanation as to why he grew a beard. It was a sad but interesting story. 

The Children's Hour
Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day's occupations,
That is known as the Children's Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me
The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,
Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence:
Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway,
A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret
O'er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me;
They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses,
Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, o blue-eyed banditti,
Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
Is not a match for you all!

I have you fast in my fortress,
And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,
Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
And moulder in dust away!

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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ASIAN-STYLE COBB SALAD

recipe adapted from damndelicious.com site serves 4
Cook's notes: This salad serves as the perfect light meal, full of protein and veggies with a simple sesame vinaigrette! Buy a rotisserie chicken as a time saver. The rest of the chicken can be used for another meal. 

Salad Ingredients:

• 5 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges in light syrup, drained or 4 clementines peeled and segmented
• 1 cup shredded or diced cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup grated carrots
• 1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
• 2 hard-boiled eggs, diced
• 1/3 cup sliced green onions

Sesame Vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar plus 1 TB.
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 TB. sesame oil
• 1 TB. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. freshly grated ginger
• 1 tsp. soy sauce
• 1 TB. toasted sesame seeds

Directions:

• To make the vinaigrette, whisk together rice wine vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, sugar, ginger, sesame seeds and soy sauce in a blender, mix well and set aside.
• To assemble the salad, place baby greens in a large bowl; top with arranged rows of mandarin oranges, chicken, carrots, avocado, eggs and green onions.
• Serve immediately with sesame vinaigrette.