| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | April 17 | | On the Death of Benjamin Franklin | | By Philip Freneau (1752–1832) |
| | (April 17, 1790)
THUS, some tall tree that long hath stood | |
| The glory of its native wood, | |
| By storms destroyed, or length of years, | |
| Demands the tribute of our tears. | |
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| The pile, that took long time to raise, | 5 |
| To dust returns by slow decays; | |
| But, when its destined years are o’er, | |
| We must regret the loss the more. | |
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| So long accustomed to your aid, | |
| The world laments your exit made; | 10 |
| So long befriended by your art, | |
| Philosopher, ’tis hard to part!— | |
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| When monarchs tumble to the ground | |
| Successors easily are found; | |
| But, matchless Franklin! what a few | 15 |
| Can hope to rival such as you, | |
| Who seized from kings their sceptred pride, | |
| And turned the lightning’s darts aside! | | | | |
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