ON the Moorish coast, chain-tethered, Thus a captive soldier spoke: "I behold you, shining feathered Hosts that fly from Winter's yoke. You whom Hope, O! happy swallows Leaving France on truant wing, On your sunward journey follows, What home-tidings do you bring? "Three long years have passed since dumbly I implored some token gleaned From the valley where I humbly Dreamt of bliss the future screened. Where the limpid stream runs looping Round the lilac-scented garth, Have you glimpsed my cot, and swooping Gathered tidings of my hearth? "One of you perchance did quicken Under thatch where I was born; Of the mother sorely stricken You have wept the love forlorn. Prone in death she hears my coming, Grieving for the laggard beat Of my footsteps slowly homing: Do you bear love-tiding sweet? "Is my sister's wedding over? Have you seen the merry throng Toasting bride and toasting lover To the sound of happy song? And the brave lads once went leaping Into battle, do they see Home again—or are they sleeping? Have you news of friends for me? "Over their slain bodies striding The despoiling stranger may In my home as master biding Seek my sister to betray. There no more a mother praying, Here the heavy chains that cling— Swallows from my homeland straying, Sorrow's burden do you bring?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MARCO BOZZARIS by FITZ-GREENE HALLECK THE FOUNTAIN by JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL SONG FOR A LITTLE HOUSE by CHRISTOPHER DARLINGTON MORLEY ROUTE MARCH by CHARLES HAMILTON SORLEY SONNET TO LIBERTY by OSCAR WILDE TIPPERARY: 1. BY OUR OWN JAMES OPPENHEIM by FRANKLIN PIERCE ADAMS |