Freedom’s Home
Tell me, where is Freedom’s home?
In forest wild—on ocean’s foam,
Amidst the laughing air
Of sunny skies?
Or is it where
The soft voluptuary lies
In rich luxuriousness ’neath marble dome?
Or does it dwell by moss-grown cell
Where the lone hermit woos the sylvan glen,
Deeming his mind, in solitude enshrined,
Blest with its happiness afar from men?
Tell me, which is Freedom’s path?
Where the step no limit hath,
As lightly borne along
The smiling earth
Man tunes his song
To soul-enamoured mirth,
Devoid of care and undisturbed by wrath?
Or when with schemes enwrapt in dreams
The young enthusiast on Hope’s golden wings,
By love inspired and ardent fancy fired,
Replenishes life’s cup from pleasure’s springs.
Tell me, then, does Freedom’s spell
Revel in the battle’s knell,
When the trumpet’s tone
Betokens death,
And a soul is gone
In every passing breath,
Whilst war’s loud clangour drowns each wild farewell,
When o’er the grave of the fallen brave
Memory’s bright tribute echoes Glory’s claim?
And was the cause, which sought the world’s applause,
Inspired by Freedom’s or Ambition’s aim?
Tell me, where does Freedom’s cry
Raise its purest notes on high?
Oh, not within the halls
Where Faction’s tongue
Excited calls,
As if th’ appeal it rung
Would burst the bonds of every social tie.
The brightest claim to lasting fame
Is when in spirit, fired with honest pride,
The patriot’s deed stirs nations to be freed,
As when a Hampden fell, or Sidney died.
Freedom, where is then thy home?
Eye may range and steps may roam,
And splendour vaunt its joys,
And he whose breast
The false world cloys
In solitude feel blest,
And fancy sport with some ideal gnome;
The pride of might, in war delight,
When the earth, bloodstained, rings with victory,
But, amongst all, who on thy spirit call,
Burns there a pure and sacred love of thee?
Freedom, thou of name sublime,
Born coeval with all time,
Can riches, arms,
Or power impart
Thy courted charms,
Unless the human heart
Insures thy smiles unsullied with a crime?
As when the soul from earth’s control
On the bright wings of Faith mounts up on high,
And offers prayer, in humble hope,—for where
God’s spirit dwells, oh, there is Liberty!
G. L.