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Historical lessonFriendshipWarm

The Arrow and the Song

Longfellow ends a poem about things sent into the world by discovering that a friend has carried the song all along.

Speaking time
15 sec
Words on this page
28

A sourced excerpt

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01

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End a thank-you with evidence that someone’s kindness has lasted.

Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend.

Say it: Take your time on “Long, long afterward.” Look at the person you are thanking before the final line.

Speaker’s notebook

Why it works

  1. 1The ending answers the earlier mystery of where the arrow and song went, giving the poem a satisfying return.
  2. 2The physical discovery prepares listeners for the less visible discovery of an enduring friendship.
  3. 3The last line puts a person, rather than an achievement, at the center of the conclusion.

Details to notice

The speech’s center

Speaker or role
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Room
Readers reflecting on friendship and influence
Ideas
FriendshipGratitudeInfluenceConnection

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