Henry W. Longfellow was once the American rock star, and his epic poems were songs that were loved the world over by children and adults. This one celebrates a story from the history of colonial America as Longfellow often did. It was first published as part of a larger collection Longfellow titled Tales of a Wayside Inn which was released in three installments between 1863 and 1873. The Poet's Tale reproduced here was included in "e;part second"e; and appears to have been completed in 1871. The book was said to have sold out of 15,000 copies on the first day of its release.