| |
In absence, by one who returns no more
ART thou there, between thy rivers, | |
| With thy towered sea front bold— | |
| There, between the dawn and sunset, | |
| Lit with amethyst or gold? | |
| Art thou there, enchanted island | 5 |
| I shall never more behold? | |
| |
| Dost thou loom, in mystic beauty, | |
| Through the hazy, summer light, | |
| Like the vision, seen in Patmos, | |
| Of the city in the height? | 10 |
| Often times, a grey armada, | |
| Anchored midst thy waters bright? | |
| |
| Art thou filled with joyous tumults | |
| That from far thy travellers hail? | |
| Do thy clangors grow a music— | 15 |
| Throbbing pave and vibrant rail? | |
| Still thy masted lights keep vigil, | |
| While thy pleasures never fail? | |
| |
| Art thou there, my haven city, | |
| Open armed to each oppressed? | 20 |
| Art thou there, with all thy strangers | |
| Thou hast taken to thy breast— | |
| Latin, Slav, and tawny alien | |
| From an East beyond the West? | |
| |
| Art thou there, midst all abundance, | 25 |
| From the wide world’s gardens shed— | |
| Thou, with palace dwellers—toilers— | |
| Strugglers earning scanty bread? | |
| Palace dwellers, toilers, beggars, | |
| But thy streets they still may tread! | 30 |
| |
| Oh, the echoes of thy pavements | |
| Where my feet no more shall be! | |
| Art thou there, enchanted island— | |
| Thou mine eyes no more shall see? | |
| Yet I know, past peradventure, | 35 |
| Loosed, my soul shall wing to thee! | |
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