Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. He was a philosopher, scientist, inventor, musician, statesman and economist, among other things. He moved to liberal Philadelphia in his twenties and started writing poetry, although he never considered himself to be a poet. Franklin was an important statesman, signing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, as well as negotiating treaties with other countries. He died in Philadelphia in 1790, and thousands of mourners turned out for his funeral.
Death is a fisherman, the world we see
His fish-pond is, and we the fishes be;
His net some general sickness; howe'er he
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Two beggars traveling along,
One blind, the other lame.
Pick'd up an oyster on the way,
To which they both laid claim:
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Once on a Time it by Chance came to pass,
That a Man and his Son were leading an Ass.
Cries a Passenger, Neighbor, you're shrewdly put to 't,
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The Body of Benjamin Franklin (Printer)
(Like the cover of an old book
Its contents torn out
And stript of its lettering and gilding)
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