WHY go the east road now?. . . That way a youth went on a morrow After mirth, and he brought back sorrow Painted upon his brow: Why go the east road now? Why go the north road now? Torn, leaf-strewn, as if scoured by foemen, Once edging fiefs of my forefolk yeomen, Fallows fat to the plough: Why go the north road now? Why go the west road now? Thence to us came she, bosom-burning, Welcome with joyousness returning. . . . She sleeps under the bough: Why go the west road now? Why go the south road now? That way marched they some are forgetting, Stark to the moon left, past regretting Loves who have falsed their vow. . . . Why go the south road now? Why go any road now? White stands the handpost for brisk onbearers, "Halt!" is the word for wan-cheeked farers Musing on Whither, and How. . . . Why go any road now? "Yea: we want new feet now" Answer the stones. "Want chit-chat, laughter: Plenty of such to go hereafter By our tracks, we trow! We are for new feet now." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ELEGY ON MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE by WILLIAM BASSE A VIEW ACROSS THE ROMAN CAMPAGNA by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING RESIGNATION by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW TALES OF A WAYSIDE INN: THE FIRST DAY: ROBERT OF SICILY by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW THE REAR-GUARD by SIEGFRIED SASSOON |