Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE JOYOUS WANDERER, by CATULLE MENDES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE JOYOUS WANDERER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I go by road, I go by street
Last Line: (sing, sad nightingale!) is my maid.
Subject(s): Wandering & Wanderers


I GO by road, I go by street --
Lira, la, la!
O white highways, ye know my feet!
A loaf I carry and, all told,
Three broad bits of lucky gold --
Lira, la, la!
And O within my flowering heart,
(Sing, dear nightingale!) is my Sweet.

A poor man met me and begged for bread --
Lira, la, la!
"Brother, take all the loaf," I said,
I shall but go with lighter cheer --
Lira, la, la!
And O within my flowering heart
(Sing, sweet nightingale!) is my Dear.

A thief I met on the lonely way --
Lira, la, la!
He took my gold; I cried to him, "Stay!
And take my pocket and make an end."
Lira, la, la!
And O within my flowering heart
(Sing, soft nightingale!) is my Friend.

Now on the plain I have met with death --
Lira, la, la!
My bread is gone, my gold, my breath.
But O this heart is not afraid --
Lira, la, la!
For O within this lonely heart
(Sing, sad nightingale!) is my Maid.





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