O, came you by the same road too,
The road that called to me?
And fellow-farers, will you learn
What shelter there may be?
There’s daybreak there to fill your heart
Red wine for half the way;
And gold there is of sunset, then,
To last another day.
(And fill your pockets with the same
Altho’ your need be small.
Take all the bounty while you may,
To have some wherewithal.)
And if you see the new moon,
I bid you tell the news,
And lend the slender silverness
For other poor to use.
And if your heart be sudden light,
And yet you know not why,
I counsel you to hold the joy;
Let pride of woe go by.
And if your feet be wearied out,
And you would rest therefore,
Seek out some house; but look you leave
Your sandals at the door.
For you shall find—tho’ sad to find
Where houses be so few—
Your too-much sorrow irks a friend,
If ever it irkèd you!
Take heart. And if the open air
No shelter seem to be,
Yet there you shall—and only there—
Have all that you can see.