Poems (Hardy)/The new house and home

by Irenè Hardy

THE NEW HOUSE AND HOME

L. F. and M. G. C.

REAR the walls and spread the roof;
 Fashion stairway, hall, and hearth;
Lay the doorsill far aloof
 From noisy highway's din and dearth;
Make the windows high and low,
That the pleasant rooms may know
 Sky and garden, heaven and earth.
  Yet from these the heart may roam;
  These make the house but not the home.

Pictures, statues, dainty nooks,
 Flowing curtains, hearthstone clear,
Loving trifles, use-worn books,
 Heart-remembering things and dear,
Gifts of love and gifts of grace,
Meet the glance in every place,—
 Who could not be happy here?
  Yet from these the heart may roam;
  They make the house but not the home.

Plant the rose-tree, train the vine,
 Wind the smooth walks in and out;
Set the borders trim and fine,
 That the paths may lead about
Where the garden ways are sweet,
Where soft grass beguiles the feet;
Yet from these the heart may roam;
 They all may be and not mean home.

Add sweet music; will these stay
 In his course the morning star?
Make our paths a perfect way?
 Bring life's secret from afar?
Nay, life's secret is from near;
 Worthless were these things that fade,
 Were they all our anchor made;
Heart's love only keeps us here.
 Ah! from this we can not roam!
 This makes our house, this builds our home.