 | Ballads and Other Poems |  |
Now, younger son, can this be thou?
Dost herd among the swine?
Thine eyes are meek, thy brow is pale,
An altered heart is thine.
Dost herd among the swine?
Thine eyes are meek, thy brow is pale,
An altered heart is thine.
And thou hast bowed to solemn thoughts
That through thy spirit ran,
As in the wilds thou sat'st apart,
A solitary man.
That through thy spirit ran,
As in the wilds thou sat'st apart,
A solitary man.
161
Ay, prodigal, sweet tears are these;
And this stripped heart is sent
By God, in token of his grace:
Look up, poor penitent!
And this stripped heart is sent
By God, in token of his grace:
Look up, poor penitent!
Bethink thee of thy father's house,
Heaven's holy peace is there:
The very servants of that place
Have bread enough to spare.
Heaven's holy peace is there:
The very servants of that place
Have bread enough to spare.
Up, thou dost perish in this wild!
And there is one doth keep
Watch for thee with a yearning love,
A memory fond and deep.
And there is one doth keep
Watch for thee with a yearning love,
A memory fond and deep.
—The younger son rose up, and went
Unto his native place;
And bowed, a meek, repentant man,
Before his father's face.
Unto his native place;
And bowed, a meek, repentant man,
Before his father's face.
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