University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 16. 
 17. 
 18. 
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
III HOME-COMING
 4. 
 5. 
 6. 
 7. 
 8. 
 9. 
 10. 
 11. 
 12. 
 13. 
 14. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
 1. 
 2. 
 3. 
 4. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse section 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

III
HOME-COMING

Back after journeying leagues of guileful sea,
Back from long tarriance among climes remote.
I did not guess what heats of amity
Lay hidden among the hearts of these my friends.
Absence has clothed me with a purple state,
Crowned me and sceptred me a transient king
With those I love and those I had dreamed till now
Not half so rich in love's warm loyalties;
While clear through every greeting, equable
As breezes through a grove of sister trees,
One bland familiar human impulse floats!

51

Different indeed the welcome, had I fared
Back from that vaporous voyage we all must make
Sooner or later to the Unknowable!
How then the faces leaned toward mine would flash
With query, amazement, awe! How Faith would clutch
My hand victoriously! How Science, then,
Eager for larger lore, would clasp my knees!
And ah, how chill Negation's eyes of ice
Would blaze upon me their supreme surprise!