House by the Side of the Road
Jimmy, one of my dear readers sent me this beautiful poem today. I would like to share it with you since it is filled with so much meaning. Thank you, Jimmy!
House by the Side of the Road
THERE are hermit souls that live withdrawn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.
~Samual Walter Foss
Thanks, Viola and Jimmy. These lines touched my heart:
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament….
Comment by SandyCarlson — June 24, 2008 @ 2:34 pm
Sandy, yes they are beautiful!
Comment by Viola Jaynes — June 24, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
A good post thanks. Deine Seite gefaellt mir sehr, macht spaß hier zu Lesen.
Comment by CRM — June 25, 2008 @ 1:19 pm
Herzlichen Dank fuer Ihren besuch!
Comment by Viola Jaynes — June 25, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
dear mama,
I read HOUSE BY THE SIDE OF THE RODE,it was butiful.
i love you so so so so so so so so so so so so so so
so so so so so so so so so so much
love,
meagan
Comment by meagan — July 15, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
This poem means a lot to me. Years ago, my mother had a copy of but I didn’t think much about it then. I think it was after she died that I remembered it. So I asked my sisters if they had ever heard of it or how mama got a hold of it. They had no idea of what I was talking about.
Recently, I was on public transportation and going to the first day of a new job. As I waited for the train, there was a street performer sitting in a chair and reciting this poem. Immediately, I recognized it and began to walk towards her. As I stood behind her, I could see that she was reading this poem. It was overwhelming because it reminded me of mama.
As I walked to my job, I wondered why did I hear this poem at this particular time. Soon, I began to realize that it was mama’s way of letting me know that she was with me and all is well!
Comment by Ronald Matthews — September 5, 2008 @ 4:11 pm
Ronald, thank you for your comment here. I love that poem as well. It is very meaningful. That was great that the person on the street there was reading it…and that you recognized it so quickly.
I wish you the best!
Comment by Viola Jaynes — September 5, 2008 @ 5:23 pm