SINCE long ago, a child at home, I read and longed to rise and roam, Where'er I went, whate'er I willed, One promised land my fancy filled.
Hence the long roads my home I made;
Tossed much in ships; have often laid Below the uncurtained sky my head, Rain-deluged and wind-buffeted:
And many a thousand hills I crossed And corners turned - Love's labour lost, Till, Lady, to your isle of sun I came, not hoping; and, like one Snatched out of blindness, rubbed my eyes, And hailed my promised land with cries.
Yes, Lady, here I was at last;
Here found I all I had forecast:
The long roll of the sapphire sea That keeps the land's virginity;The stalwart giants of the wood Laden with toys and flowers and food;The precious forest pouring out To compass the whole town about;The town itself with streets of lawn, Loved of the moon, blessed by the dawn, Where the brown children all the day Keep up a ceaseless noise of play, Play in the sun, play in the rain, Nor ever quarrel or complain; -And late at night, in the woods of fruit, Hark! do you hear the passing flute?
I threw one look to either hand, And knew I was in Fairyland.
And yet one point of being so I lacked. For, Lady (as you know), Whoever by his might of hand, Won entrance into Fairyland, Found always with admiring eyes A Fairy princess kind and wise.
It was not long I waited; soon Upon my threshold, in broad noon, Gracious and helpful, wise and good, The Fairy Princess Moe stood.
Tantira, Tahiti, Nov. 5, 1888.
