Landon in The Literary Gazette 1834/The Exile
10
Literary Gazette, 25th October, 1834, Page 401
POETRY.
THE EXILE.
Translated from “Les Dernières Paroles,” by l'Abbé de la
Mennais.
He wanders o'er the earth, that exiled one;
God be his guide, who other guide hath none!
I wandered through the nations, and I gazed
On them, and they on me, alike unknown;
No friendly head was with a welcome raised,
For every where the exile is alone.
When o'er some chimney, at the closing day,
I saw the smoke unwind its shadowy zone,
I said, "Thrice happy he who by his hearth
Sits down in quiet, with his loved, his own:
But every where the exile is alone.
As the storm drives those heavy clouds along,
When scattered vapours o'er the sky are strown,
So am I driven—where, it matters not—
For every where the exile is alone.
The soft brook wanders singing through the plain:
My childhood knew one with a sweeter tone;
This wakes my spirit with no memories,
As every where the exile is alone.
These songs are sweet—they breathe of grief and joy;
But not in language which my heart has known:
They tell not of my griefs, nor of my joys—
Still every where the exile is alone.
They ask me why I weep; and when I tell,
They weep not o'er my secret sorrow shown;
They do not understand, and cannot weep—
For every where the exile is alone.
Old men I’ve seen amid their children stand,
Like olives mid the shoots their trunks have thrown—
None called me brother, and none called me child—
Ah, every where the exile is alone.
I've seen the maiden on her lover smile—
Smiles pure as gales in early morning blown;
But no one had for me a rosy smile—
Still every where the exile is alone.
I've seen the young man take the young man's hand
In strong embrace, as each to each had grown;
No kindly hand extended to meet mine—
Ah! every where the exile is alone!
There is no friend, no wife, no sire, no son,
Save in the long-loved land which is our own;
The wide world has one country, and one home;
For every where the exile is alone!
Poor exile! cease thy plaint—e'en as thyself,
All are as banished ones in this sad life;
All see those pass and vanish whom they love—
Kindred and brethren, parent, friend, and wife.
Our country is not here; in vain man seeks—
'Tis but a dream of night that he has won;
It fades—he wanders weary over earth—
God, only God, can guide the exiled one.
L. E. L.