Poems (Hoffman)/The Wanderer
For works with similar titles, see The Wanderer.
THE WANDERER.
I came into this beautiful world Like a leaf tossed on the sea;A leaf from the tree of life down-hurled, O there was no place for meIn the dizzy surges that tossed and whirledIn the great, wide, cruel, beautiful world!
On the beautiful, deep unrest Alone, oh, so all alone!Sometimes up, up, to the wave's white crest, By some wandering wind-sprite blown;Sometimes rocked low in the cradle restOf some mighty billow's heaving breast.
Roll, mighty years that are hurrying To its goal the exiled leaf!Roll mighty billow and weep and sing, Your gladness and your grief;Each unto each its own shall bring,Every flying year is an angel's wing.