Let Me Live In My House By The Side Of The Road

Recently, I discovered this poem and it is lovely....

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn

In the place of their self-content;

There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,

In a fellowless firmament;

There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths

Where highways never ran-

But let me live by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

Where the race of men go by-

The men who are good and the men who are bad,

As good and as bad as I.

I would not sit in the scorner's seat

Nor hurl the cynic's ban-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road

By the side of the highway of life,

The men who press with the ardor of hope,

The men who are faint with the strife,

But I turn not away from their smiles and tears,

Both parts of an infinite plan-

Let me live in a house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,

And mountains of wearisome height;

That the road passes on through the long afternoon

And stretches away to the night.

And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice

And weep with the strangers that moan,

Nor live in my house by the side of the road

Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road,

Where the race of men go by-

They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,

Wise, foolish - so am I.

Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,

Or hurl the cynic's ban?

Let me live in my house by the side of the road

And be a friend to man.

- Sam Walter Foss

Sometimes I have felt confused about who I am and wanted to fly away. So I left my house to walk with others on their journeys, only to realize that my journey was back at the house. But each time I've returned home, I've brought something with me, something I've learned- like a souvenir for my house, something to remember the lesson by. And something, that makes me understand and love my fellow 'man' and myself a little bit more.

I adore poetry but I don't think I've ever shared a poem here. This poem is not only fitting presently on a mental/emotional basis for me but also on a physical level because as I mentioned last week, I have just started reorganizing and reinventing our house. It feels as though I am centering in more and more on what is right here and right now- and it feels like coming home.

Now I feel drawn to share a video of a related song by one of the best bands that ever did exist...

What's happening at your house these days?

♥ Andrea ♥