Friday, June 06, 2008

Poetry Friday - Home, Sweet Home!

Hello old friends. I've been lost in the whirlwind of meetings, classes and conferences this week. I've only just returned and feel like I've been out of touch for so long. I posted no poetry stretch on Monday, reviewed no books, and read no blogs. So, I am breathing a deep sigh as I sink into my chair and relish the fact that I am finally home. In honor of that feeling, I am sharing a poem by John Howard Payne.
Home, Sweet Home
by John Howard Payne

(From the Opera of "Clari, the Maid of Milan")

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,
Be it ever so humble there 's no place like home!
A charm from the sky seems to hallow us there,
Which, seek through the world, is ne'er met with elsewhere.
    Home! home! sweet, sweet home!
    There 's no place like home!

An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain:
O, give me my lowly thatched cottage again!
The birds singing gayly that came at my call;—
Give me them,—and the peace of mind dearer than all!
    Home! home! sweet, sweet home!
    There 's no place like home!

How sweet 't is to sit 'neath a fond father's smile,
And the cares of a mother to soothe and beguile!
Let others delight mid new pleasures to roam,
But give me, oh, give me, the pleasures of home!
    Home! home! sweet, sweet home!
    There 's no place like home!

To thee I 'll return, overburdened with care;
The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there;
No more from that cottage again will I roam;
Be it ever so humble, there 's no place like home.
    Home! home! sweet, sweet home!
    There 's no place like home!
The round up today is being hosted by Sarah over at just another day of Catholic pondering. Do head on over and check out all the great poetry being shared. Happy poetry Friday, all!

4 comments:

  1. Welcome back. Put your feet up! (You can do that when it's your own coffee table.)

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  2. Exactly how I feel. I haven't been away, just caught up in the end of the school year whirlwind... but oh am I happy to be at home this weekend!

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  3. Tricia,

    Welcome back! I thought that you might be sick. I'll be blogging a little less than usual for awhile because I've decided to focus more of my attention on working on two new poetry collections. (I need to do research for both collections.) I also won't be teaching my children's literature course any longer.

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  4. Elaine,
    I'm thrilled that you are finally getting some time to do exactly what you want to do. I hope it is fruitful and that we will soon get to see the efforts of your labor in print!

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