There is a land, of every land the pride,
Beloved by Heaven o’er all the world beside,
Where brighter suns dispense serener light,
And milder moons imparadise the night;
A land of beauty, virtue, valor, truth,
Time-tutored age, and love-exalted youth:
The wandering mariner, whose eye explores
The wealthiest isles, the most enchanting shores,
Views not a realm so bountiful and fair,
Nor breathes the spirit of a purer air.
In every clime, the magnet of his soul,
Touched by remembrance, trembles to that pole;
For in this land of Heaven’s peculiar race,
The heritage of nature’s noblest grace,
There is a spot of earth supremely blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest,
Where man, creation’s tyrant, casts aside
His sword and sceptre, pageantry and pride,
While in his softened looks benignly blend
The sire, the son, the husband, brother, friend.
Here woman reigns; the mother, daughter, wife,
Strew with fresh flowers the narrow way of life:
In the clear heaven of her delightful eye
An angel-guard of love and graces lie;
Around her knees domestic duties meet,
And fireside pleasures gambol at her feet.
“Where shall that land, that spot of earth be found?”
Art thou a man?–a patriot?–look around;
O, thou shalt find, howe’er thy footsteps roam,
That land _thy_ country, and that spot _thy_ home!
Man, through all ages of revolving time,
Unchanging man, in every varying clime,
Deems his own land of every land the pride,
Beloved by Heaven o’er the world beside;
His home the spot of earth supremely blest,
A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.
(James Montgomery)
More Poetry from James Montgomery:
James Montgomery Poems based on Topics: Love, Light, Soul, Life, Night, Home, Sons, Heaven, World, Man, Art- A Cry from South Africa (James Montgomery Poems)
- A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief (James Montgomery Poems)
- The Pelican Island (James Montgomery Poems)
- An Indian Mother About to Destroy Her Child (James Montgomery Poems)
- Inscription under the Picture of an Aged Negro-woman (James Montgomery Poems)
- The Recluse (James Montgomery Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, Life Poems, World Poems, Night Poems, Light Poems, Time Poems, Soul Poems, Nature Poems, Youth Poems, Heaven PoemsBased on Keywords: wealthiest, imparadise, love-exalted, angel-guard