Living

Home-Rootedness

by William Watson 1858–1935

From Ver Tenebrosum (1885)

Living

I cannot boast myself cosmopolite;
I own to "insularity," although
'Tis fall'n from fashion, as full well I know.
For somehow, being a plain and simple wight,
I am skin-deep a child of the new light,
But chiefly am mere Englishman below,
Of island-fostering; and can hate a foe,
And trust my kin before the Muscovite.
Whom shall I trust if not my kin? And whom
Account so near in natural bonds as these
Born of my mother England's mighty womb,
Nursed on my mother England's mighty knees,
And lull'd as I was lull'd in glory and gloom
With cradle-song of her protecting seas?

MLA

Watson, William. “Home-Rootedness.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/watson/55/.

Chicago

Watson, William. “Home-Rootedness.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/watson/55/.

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