DISTANT VOICES

I left my home for travelling;

Because I heard the strange birds sing

In foreign skies, and felt their wing

Brush past my soul impatiently;

I saw the bloom on flower and tree

That only grows beyond the sea.

Methought the distant voices spake

More wisdom than near tongues can make;

I followed — lest my heart should break.

And what is past is past and done.

I dreamt, and here the dream begun:

I saw a salmon in the sun

Leap from the river to the shore —

Ah! strange mishap, so wounded sore,

To his sweet stream to turn no more.

A bird from’ neath his mother’ s breast,

Spread his weak wings in vain request;

Never again to reach his nest.

I saw a blossom bloom too soon

Upon a summer’ s afternoon;

’ Twill breathe no more beneath the moon.

I woke, warmed’ neath a foreign sky

Where locust blossoms bud and die,

Strange birds called to me flashing by.

And dusky faces passed and woke

The echoes with the words they spoke —

— The same old tales as other folk.

A truce to roaming! Never more

I’ ll leave the home I loved of yore.

But strangers meet me at the door.

I left my home still travelling,

For yet I hear the strange birds sing,

And foreign flowers rare perfumes bring.

I hear a distant voice, more wise

Than others are’ neath foreign skies.

I’ ll find — perhaps in paradise.