When I Come Home

Around me Life's hell of fierce Ardours burns,
When I come home, when I come home;
Over me Heaven with its starry heart yearns,
When I come home, when I come home.
For a feast of Gods garnisht, the palace of Night
At a thousand star-windows is throbbing with light.
London makes mirth! but I know God hears
The sobs in the dark, and the dropping of tears;
For I feel that he listens down Night's great dome
When I come home, when I come home;
Home, home, when I come home,
Far i' the night when I come home.

I walk under Night's triumphal arch,

When I come home, when I come home;
Exulting with life like a Conqueror's march,
When I come home, when I come home.
I pass by the rich-chamber'd mansions that shine,
O'erflowing with splendour like goblets with wine:
I have fought, I have vanquisht the dragon of Toil,
And before me my golden Hesperides smile!
And O but Love's flowers make rich the gloam,
When I come home, when I come home!
Home, home, when I come home,
Far i' the night when I come home.

O the sweet, merry mouths up-turn'd to be kist,

When I come home, when I come home!
How the younglings yearn from the hungry nest,

When I come home, when I come home!
My weary, worn heart into sweetness is stirr'd,
And it dances and sings like a singing Bird,
On the branch nighest heaven, — a-top of my life:
As I clasp my winsome, wooing Wife!
And her pale cheek with rich, tender passion doth

bloom,
When I come home, when I come home;

Home, home, when I come home,

Far i' the night when I come home.

Clouds furl off the shining face of my life,

When I come home, when I come home,
And leave heaven bare on her bosom, sweet Wife,

When I come home, when I come home.
With her brave smiling Energies, — Faith warm and

bright, —

With love glorified and serenely alight, —
With her womanly beauty and queenly calm,
She steals to my heart with a blessing of balm;
And O but the wine of Love sparkles with foam,
When I come home, when I come home!

Home, home, when I come home,

Far i' the night when I come home.