Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE ROAD TO BABYLON, by MARGARET ADELAIDE WILSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE ROAD TO BABYLON, by                    
First Line: How far is it to babylon?'
Last Line: Have missed the road returning home.
Subject(s): Babylon


"How far is it to Babylon?
-- Threescore miles and ten.
Can I get there by candle-light?
Yes, and back again."
And while nurse hummed the old, old rhyme,
Tucking him in at evening time,
He dreamed how when he grew a man
And traveled free, as big men can,
He'd slip out through the garden gate
To roads where high adventures wait
And find the way to Babylon,
Babylon, far Babylon,
All silver-towered in the sun!
He's traveled free, a man with men;
(Bitter the scores of miles and ten!)
And now face down by Babylon's wall
He sleeps, nor any more at all
By morning, noon or candle-light
Or in the wistful summer night
To his own garden gate he'll come.
-- Young feet that fretted so to roam
Have missed the road returning home.





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