"A home it was! and at declining day Wee, waiting ones went forth their sire to meet, As tired from toil he turned to this retreat, Where Love's caress would keep the world at bay; And all day long each dimpled child would play Beside that door whence flower-scent still is blown; But all around these haunts Neglect holds sway And Time the old foot-paths with weeds has sown." Thus Fancy spake and ceased; but when I pressed For reasons why 'twas left, she said to me: "One parent died or both; or, sore distressed By Fortune dire, one morn they turned the key; Or here they heard the calling of the West— Come, ask that lingering shape: 'tis Memory!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LAMENT FOR CULLODEN by ROBERT BURNS THE BANKS O' DOON by ROBERT BURNS A PASTORAL DIALOGUE: SHEPHERD, NYMPH, CHORUS by THOMAS CAREW GERONTION by THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT THE FIFTEEN ACRES by JAMES STEPHENS THE CRICKET by FREDERICK GODDARD TUCKERMAN OUR WEAKNESS by JOHANNA AMBROSIUS EMBLEMS OF LOVE: 34. TRUE LOVE KNOWS BUT ONE by PHILIP AYRES THE HOUSE-WARMING; A LEGEND OF BLEEDING-HEART YARD by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |