On my sister Joanna's entrance into her 33rd year, 16 May 1787

On my sister Joanna's
entrance into her 33d year
[16 May 1787]

On this thy natal day permit a friend -
A brother - with thy joys his own to blend:
In all thy gladness he would wish to share
As willing in thy griefs a part to bear.
Meekly attend the ways of higher heav'n!
Is much deny'd? Yet much my dear is giv'n.
Thy health, thy reason unimpaired remain
And while as new fal'n snows thy spotless fame.
The partner of thy life, attentive - kind -
And blending e'en the interests of the mind.

What bliss is thine when fore thy glistn'ing eye
Thy lovely infant train pass jocund by!
The ruddy cheek, the smiling morning face
Denote a healthy undegenerate race:
In them renew'd, you'll live & live again,
And children's children's children lisp thy name.

Bright be the skies where'er my sister goes
Nor scowling tempests injure her repose -
The field of life with roses thick be strow'd
Nor one sharp thorn lie lurking in the road.
Thy ev'ry path be still a path of peace
And each revolving year thy joys increase;
Till hours & years & time itself be o'er
And one eternal day around thee pour.

View in Manuscript Book

Historical Background

Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery
Paul Schenek 1741-1877
Joanna Schenak 1771-1795
Peter D. Schenak 1794-1837

Joanna M. Livingston 1806-1862

Gilbert Livingston Descendants by Kinkead
This family lived in Millston, N.J., then in Bushwick, L.I., and later in Wappingers Falls, N.Y. In 1774-78, he was manager of a mill which Leonard Lewis had established on the Val Kill where it enters the Hudson River, and during this period he lived in the Lewis House. The site rapidly increased in importance and became known as "the Upper Landing." In the 1780's he was in New Lebanon, N.Y., and around 1800 he was back in Poughkeepsie where he was a well-known merchant. He was a member of the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies Aug. 9, 1777, along with Andrew Billings, Peter Tappan, and John Schnenck. His name appears on the list of Deputies to the Provincial Congress in 1776, and he was among those who signed the Articles of Association.

NAVIGATION

Writing, Documents, Letters, Poetry, Prose

Illustrated 1823 Night Before Christmas

All Henry Livingston's Poetry, All Clement Moore's Poetry Historical Articles About Authorship

Many Ways to Read Henry Livingston's Poetry

Arguments, Smoking Gun?, Reindeer Names, First Publication, Early Variants
Timeline Summary, Witness Letters, Quest to Prove Authorship, Scholars, Fiction

Book, Slideshow, Xmas, Writing, The Man, Work, Illos, Music, Genealogy, Bios, History, Games

Henry's Home

Mary's Home