Poems (Dodd)/"Homeward bound"
"HOMEWARD BOUND."
Welcome, bright and early morning, Thou art welcome to my heart,Though from dear, familiar faces, With the dawn I must depart.
Farewell, friends! the word is spoken, For the parting hour has come,And I go, with glad impatience, To my long forsaken home.
Think not, though a smile is stealing O'er the cheek with tear-drops wet,That I turn away with coldness, Or without one fond regret.
Were this heart of mine laid open Where its cherished feelings dwell,With the sweet and sad emotions, All too deep for words to tell:
Ye might see how much lies hidden 'Neath a calm untroubled brow;Now a bounding thrill of pleasure, And a soul all saddened now.
Grief and joy so oft are mingled, In the cup we drain below,That we taste till sweet from bitter, Joy from grief we hardly know.
Fair the scenes my steps are leaving; Scenes through which I loved to roam;Long will memory retain them But there is "no place like home."
Now we reach the glancing waters; Now we leave the busy shore;Hasten barque, and bear me onward! Bear me to my home once more!
Swift we sail the blue waves over; For the wind is fresh and fairBut my thoughts outspeed the vessel, Home!—they are already there.
There I see the dear loved dwelling, Where youth's golden hours have flown,And the smiling pleasant places, All from sunny childhood known.
"Homeward bound!" O, words of gladness! Thrilling my impatient heart:Give me wings! the wind is dying; See how slow the waters part!
Once I loved to watch the sunbeams Dancing on the foaming tide,And the shores and hills receding Till they crown the landscape wide.
Now I have no eye for beauty; Wave and shore no charm can show;I can only count the moments, Count and chide them as they go.
Chide them that they move so slowly, When I fain would have them fly;Chide them that they idly linger, With the wished for haven nigh.
Hush, my heart, nor beat so wildly! Thou canst patient wait I ween;For our barque is hastening homeward, Though the waters roll between.
Friends I leave, may Heaven's sweet blessings, Ever round your pathway come;May the friends I seek be blessed, And thrice blest the "light of home."