Classic Poem

From my boyhood's prime, — from my boyhood's prime, —
One strain still rings in my ear.
O, how far lies the time, — O, how far lies the time,
Was once so near!

What the swallow sang, — what the swallow sang,
When she came bringing harvest and spring,
Till the village rang, — till the village rang, —
Does that still ring?

" When I last took wing, — when I last took wing, —
Bin and barn stood loaded there;
When I came in spring, — when I came in spring, —
I found all bare. "

O thou childhood's word! — O thou childhood's word! —
Glad wisdom's unconscious spring,
Skilled in speech of bird, — skilled in speech of bird, —
As the wise king!

O ye fields of home! — O ye fields of home! —
By the hallowed shade and stream
Might I once more roam, — might I once more roam, —
On wings of dream!

When I went, ah! then, — when I went, ah! then
The world was so full and fair;
When I came again, — when I came again, —
I found all bare.

Comes the swallow back, — comes the swallow back, —
The chests that were empty run o'er;
But the heart, alack! — but the heart, alack!
Grows full no more.

There 's no swallow brings, — there 's no swallow brings
Back to thee what thy tears deplore;
Yet the swallow sings, — yet the swallow sings
Just as of yore: —

" When I last took wing, — when I last took wing, —
Bin and barn stood loaded there;
When I came in spring, — when I came in spring, —
I found all bare. "