The Exile - Hugues Felicite Robert de Lamennais

The Exile - Hugues Felicite Robert de Lamennais
I wandered through the nations, and I gazed
On them, and they on me, alike unknown;
No friendly head was with a welcome raised,
For every where the exile is alone.
When o'er some chimney, at the closing day,
I saw the smoke unwind its shadowy zone,
I said, "Thrice happy he who by his hearth
Sits down in quiet, with his loved, his own:
But every where the exile is alone.
As the storm drives those heavy clouds along,
When scattered vapours o'er the sky are strown,
So am I driven-where, it matters not-
For every where the exile is alone.
The soft brook wanders singing through the plain:
My childhood knew one with a sweeter tone;
This wakes my spirit with no memories,
As every where the exile is alone.
These songs are sweet-they breathe of grief and joy;
But not in language which my heart has known:
They tell not of my griefs, nor of my joys-
Still every where the exile is alone.
They ask me why I weep; and when I tell,
They weep not o'er my secret sorrow shown;
They do not understand, and cannot weep-
For every where the exile is alone.
Old men I’ve seen amid their children stand,
Like olives mid the shoots their trunks have thrown-
None called me brother, and none called me child-
Ah, every where the exile is alone.
I've seen the maiden on her lover smile-
Smiles pure as gales in early morning blown;
But no one had for me a rosy smile-
Still every where the exile is alone.
I've seen the young man take the young man's hand
In strong embrace, as each to each had grown;
No kindly hand extended to meet mine-
Ah! every where the exile is alone!
There is no friend, no wife, no sire, no son,
Save in the long-loved land which is our own;
The wide world has one country, and one home;
For every where the exile is alone!
Poor exile! cease thy plaint-e'en as thyself,
All are as banished ones in this sad life;
All see those pass and vanish whom they love-
Kindred and brethren, parent, friend, and wife.
Our country is not here; in vain man seeks-
'Tis but a dream of night that he has won;
It fades-he wanders weary over earth-
God, only God, can guide the exiled one.