I LEFT my home; -- 'twas in a little vale, Shelter'd from snow-storms by the stately pines; A small clear river wander'd quietly, Its smooth waves only cut by the light barks Of fishers, and but darken'd by the shade The willows flung, when to the southern wind They threw their long green tresses. On the slope Were five or six white cottages, whose roofs Reach'd not to the laburnum's height, whose boughs Shook over them bright showers of golden bloom. Sweet silence reign'd around: -- no other sound Came on the air, than when the shepherd made The reed-pipe rudely musical, or notes From the wild birds, or children in their play Sending forth shouts of laughter. Strangers came Rarely or never near the lonely place.... I went into far countries. Years pass'd by, But still that vale in silent beauty dwelt Within my memory. Home I came at last. I stood upon a mountain height, and look'd Into the vale below; and smoke arose, And heavy sounds; and through the thick dim air Shot blacken'd turrets, and brick walls, and roofs Of the red tile. I enter'd in the streets: There were ten thousand hurrying to and fro; And masted vessels stood upon the river, And barges sullied the once dew-clear stream. Where were the willows, where the cottages? I sought my home; I sought, and found a city, -- Alas! for the green valley! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THREE KINGS OF ORIENT by JOHN HENRY HOPKINS JR. THESEUS by THOMAS STURGE MOORE DULCE ET DECORUM EST by WILFRED OWEN TO THE RIVER by EDGAR ALLAN POE THE LORD OF THOULOUSE; A LEGEND OF LANGUEDOC by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE by WILLIAM ROSE BENET |