Some words stick in your head forever. Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote words like that. He was born in 1809 and died on October 6, 1892. He was England's Poet Laureate for 42 years, the longest anyone has held that title. Tennyson's poems told stories that made people feel strong emotions. His most famous poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade," describes a group of cavalry soldiers who rode into battle knowing they would probably die. The poem's rhythm sounds like galloping horses: "Half a league, half a league, half a league onward." Tennyson also wrote long poems about King Arthur and his knights. These poems, called *Idylls of the King*, brought the old legends back to life for a new generation. He wrote about honor, loyalty, and loss. Queen Victoria loved his poetry. She once said reading his work helped her through grief after her husband died. Tennyson's poems were so popular that people lined up to buy new collections. He was one of the first poets to become a celebrity in his own lifetime. His words were read in parlors, churches, and schools across the British Empire.