Songs of Travel, and Other Verses

From the opening

III. YOUTH AND LOVE: II.—To the heart of youth the world is a highwayside

XIII. MATER TRIUMPHANS—Son of my woman’s body, you go, to the drum and fife

XXXII. IN MEMORIAM E. H.—I knew a silver head was bright beyond compare

XXXVII. THE HOUSE OF TEMBINOKA—Let us, who part like brothers, part like bards

XXXIX. TROPIC RAIN—As the single pang of the blow, when the metal is mingled well

XLIII. TO S. R. CROCKETT—Blows the wind to-day, and the sun and rain are flying

Give to me the life I love, Let the lave go by me, Give the jolly heaven above And the byway nigh me. Bed in the bush with stars to see, Bread I dip in the river— There’s the life for a man like me, There’s the life for ever.

Let the blow fall soon or late, Let what will be o’er me; Give the face of earth around And the road before me. Wealth I seek not, hope nor love, Nor a friend to know me; All I seek, the heaven above And the road below me.

Or let autumn fall on me Where afield I linger, Silencing the bird on tree, Biting the blue finger. White as meal the frosty field— Warm the fireside haven— Not to autumn will I yield, Not to winter even!

Let the blow fall soon or late, Let what will be o’er me; Give the face of earth around, And the road before me. Wealth I ask not, hope nor love, Nor a friend to know me; All I ask, the heaven above And the road below me.

Once only by the garden gate Our lips we joined and parted. I must fulfil an empty fate And travel the uncharted.

Hail and farewell! I must arise, Leave here the fatted cattle, And paint on foreign lands and skies My Odyssey of battle.

A short sample. Read the whole book

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