Poems (Hardy)/The new house and home
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 aboutWhere 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.