Era:
Year Created: 1728
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Description: A young Benjamin Franklin wrote this doggerel verse in 1728 to serve as his epitaph. Franklin, who loved to write humorous and satirical verses as well as essays, made copies of this verse for friends at various times in his life. This version, not in Franklin's hand, was among the papers owned by Franklin's grandson, William Temple Franklin.
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Partial transcription:
The Body of B. Franklin, Printer; like the Cover of an old Book, Its Contents torn out, And stript of its Lettering and Gilding, Lies here, Food for Worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost; For it will, as he believ'd, appear once more, In a new & more perfect Edition, Corrected and amended By the Author.
Citation: Franklin, Benjamin. “Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words Transcript of Benjamin Franklin, Epitaph.” Library of Congress, 16 Aug. 2010, www.loc.gov/exhibits/franklin/bf-trans61.html.