 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
HOME AT LAST.
Ah, what means that outstretched finger?
What that eager, wistful gaze?
Why do those brave soldiers linger
Peering at the distant haze?
What that eager, wistful gaze?
Why do those brave soldiers linger
Peering at the distant haze?
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What has warmed their pallid faces
With an unaccustomed glow,
Smoothing, hiding pain's sad traces—
Furrows of War's various woe?
With an unaccustomed glow,
Smoothing, hiding pain's sad traces—
Furrows of War's various woe?
Is it from the sunrise yonder
They have caught that happy gleam?
Is it coloured clouds they ponder,
Morning's gold and crimson beam?
They have caught that happy gleam?
Is it coloured clouds they ponder,
Morning's gold and crimson beam?
No, it is the welcome whiteness
Of dear England's nearing shore;
And their faces take a brightness
From beholding Home once more.
Of dear England's nearing shore;
And their faces take a brightness
From beholding Home once more.
How they love the very breezes
Which come whispering out to sea;
How the wandering land-bird pleases,
Telling of green field and tree.
Which come whispering out to sea;
How the wandering land-bird pleases,
Telling of green field and tree.
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Oh, what happiness surprises
Those brave hearts in view of Home,
While the white cliff slowly rises,
Shining o'er the mist and foam!
Those brave hearts in view of Home,
While the white cliff slowly rises,
Shining o'er the mist and foam!
We are drawing nearer, nearer
To our Home, as years glide by:
Does that heavenly shore grow dearer
To our longing heart and eye?
To our Home, as years glide by:
Does that heavenly shore grow dearer
To our longing heart and eye?
Have we shown a soldier's bearing
In life's long and painful fight—
Duties, hardships bravely sharing,
As in our great Captain's sight?
In life's long and painful fight—
Duties, hardships bravely sharing,
As in our great Captain's sight?
Do we prize each whispered token,
Breathing of the land above,
And each wingèd message spoken
From the God of grace and love?
Breathing of the land above,
And each wingèd message spoken
From the God of grace and love?
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Soon Heaven's walls sublime and glorious
Shall surprise our raptured eye,
And, at last, through Christ victorious,
We shall gain our Home on high!
Shall surprise our raptured eye,
And, at last, through Christ victorious,
We shall gain our Home on high!
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