WHERE I am, the halls are gilded, Stored with pictures bright and rare; Strains of deep melodious music Float upon the perfumed air: -- Nothing stirs the dreary silence Save the melancholy sea, Near the poor and humble cottage, Where I fain would be! Where I am, the sun is shining, And the purple windows glow, Till their rich armorial shadows Stain the marble floor below: -- Faded autumn leaves are trembling On the withered jasmine-tree, Creeping round the little casement, Where I fain would be! Where I am, the days are passing O'er a pathway strewn with flowers; Song and joy and starry pleasures Crown the happy, smiling hours: -- Slowly, heavily, and sadly, Time with weary wings must flee, Marked by pain, and toil, and sorrow, Where I fain would be! Where I am, the great and noble Tell me of renown and fame, And the red wine sparkles highest To do honor to my name: -- Far away a place is vacant, By a humble hearth, for me, Dying embers dimly show it, Where I fain would be! Where I am are glorious dreamings, Science, genius, art divine; And the great minds whom all honor Interchange their thoughts with mine: -- A few simple hearts are waiting, Longing, wearying, for me, Far away, where tears are falling, Where I fain would be! Where I am, all think me happy, For so well I play my part, None can guess, who smile around me, How far distant is my heart, -- Far away, in a poor cottage, Listening to the dreary sea, Where the treasures of my life are, Where I fain would be! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...L'AMOUR DU MENSONGE by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE THE SPIRIT IS TRUE by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE A LETTER TO HER HUSBAND by ANNE BRADSTREET LINES WRITTEN AT LOUDON MANSE by ROBERT BURNS O GOD! O MONTREAL! by SAMUEL BUTLER (1835-1902) THE HOLOCAUST by HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON MODERN LOVE by FORD MADOX FORD TO THE INDIFFERENT WOMEN; A SESTINA by CHARLOTTE PERKINS STETSON GILMAN |