Manuscript poem, as a teenager (ca. 1824–1826), in "Lincoln as Poet" at Library of Congress : Presidents as Poets http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/prespoetry/al.html, as published in The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln (1953) edited by Roy. P. Basler, Vol. 1
1820s
“And I made a rural pen,
And I stained the water clear,
And I wrote my happy songs
Every child may joy to hear.”
Introduction, st. 5
1780s, Songs of Innocence (1789–1790)
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
William Blake 249
English Romantic poet and artist 1757–1827Related quotes
“I wrote my songs despite the fact that I was a drunk, not because of it.”
As quoted in "Warren Zevon: Singer-songwriter author of 'Werewolves of London'" by Spencer Leigh, The Independent (9 September 2003) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/warren-zevon-548722.html
“I sit in my tree
I sing like the birds
My beak is my pen
My songs are my poems.”
Source: My Name Is Mina
From a letter to Robert W. Gordon (February 15, 1926)
Letters
“If a writer wrote merely for his time, I would have to break my pen and throw it away.”
Colorado Daily interview with Wendy Kale (5 April 2010) http://www.coloradodaily.com/music-news/ci_15016085
Bass Generation
Source: Bingatshū, as cited in: Katō, Shūichi. A History of Japanese Literature: From the Man'yōshū to Modern Times, 1997. p. 105.