John Ridge wrote the following poem when he was 16 years of age. As was his concern in the poem, his own life was very brief. He was assassinated June 22, 1839 for supporting the Treaty of New Echota.

On the Shortness of Human Life

Like as a damask Rose you see,
Or like the blossom on the tree,

Or like the morning to the day,
Or like the Sun,
Or like the Shade,
Or like the Gourd which Jonas had:

Even such is MAN! Whose thread is spun,
Drawn out and cut, and so, 'tis done.

Withers the Rose
The blossom blasts,
The flower fades
The morning hastes,

The sun is set, shadows fly,
The gourd consumes, - so mortals die.