Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A PROLOGUE TO THE HARTZ-JOURNEY, by HEINRICH HEINE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A PROLOGUE TO THE HARTZ-JOURNEY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: All I saw and heard when travelling
Last Line: Under which he fancies fighting.
Subject(s): Travel; Journeys; Trips


ALL I saw and heard when travelling,
All that soul and heart found pleasing,
All that gave me food for cavilling,
All that tedious was or teasing;

Solemn jostlings, wild excitement,
Both of simpletons and sages, --
All shall swell the long indictment
Of my travels in these pages.

Give not travels life twice over?
When at home one lives once only;
Wouldst thou nobler ends discover,
Thou must leave thy closet lonely.

On the world's wide stage, each player
Is a mimic or a puppet,
Rides his hobby his own way, or
Bids the others clamber up it.

If we're laughed at by our neighbour,
Riding in this curious fashion,
Let us him in turn belabour,
Jeering him without compassion.

Read these travels in the manner
And the sense in which I'm writing;
Each one has his fav'rite banner
Under which he fancies fighting.





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