A m e r i c a for me
by Henry Van Dyke
 |
The View from Our Front Porch - The Harrison House |
'Tis fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down
Among the famous palaces and cities of renown
To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings,
But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.
Among the famous palaces and cities of renown
To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings,
But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.
So it's home again, and home again, America for me!
My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be
In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.
My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be
In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.
Oh London is a man's town, there's power in the air
And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair;
And it's sweet to dream in Venice,
And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair;
And it's sweet to dream in Venice,
and it's great to study Rome;
But when it comes to living there is no place like home.
But when it comes to living there is no place like home.
I like the German fir-woods, in green battalions drilled
I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing fountains filled;
But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day
In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her way!
I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing fountains filled;
But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day
In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her way!
I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack:
The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.
But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free,
We love our land for what she is and what she is to be.
We love our land for what she is and what she is to be.
Oh, it's home again, and home again, America for me!
I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea,
To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.
I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea,
To the blessed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.
VS [very special] P.S. [postscript]
On May 18, 1959
My high school Graduation Day
Patterson High School
Patterson, Georgia
As an Honor Student in my Graduating Class of 1959
This was my Speech/Recitation
America For Me
by Henry Van Dyke
Beautiful images Jonell! I especially love the layering on your table. That poem is amazing and I am wondering why I have never heard it before?
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
Jan I think it' is very old - you can google it and see. While over the years I've always recalled some from memory I had to google it too find the entire poem I I like it too
ReplyDeleteWonderful poem, Jonell and I love the pictures you put with it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, that picture of my on my sidebar was from about 3 or 4 years ago, so aside from my hair being a tad longer, that's what I look like. Thank you for that huge compliment!
xo,
rue
I absolutely luv finding notes from readers - like you!
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