Poetical Remains of the Late Mrs Hemans/Attraction of the East

by Felicia Hemans

For other versions of this work, see Records of Passing Thought. XVI. Attraction of the East.

XVI.

ATTRACTION OF THE EAST.

What secret current of man's nature turns
Unto the golden East with ceaseless flow?
Still, where the sunbeam at its fountain burns,
The pilgrim spirit would adore and glow;
Rapt in high thoughts, though weary, faint and slow,
Still doth the traveller through the deserts wind
Led by those old Chaldean stars, which know
Where passed the Shepherd Fathers of mankind.
Is it some quenchless instinct which from far
Still points to where our alienated home
Lay in bright peace? O thou true Eastern Star
Saviour! atoning Lord! where'er we roam,
Draw still our hearts to thee, else, else how vain
Their hope, the fair lost birthright to regain.