Welcome to My Portfolio

Rooms to explore:

"2022 Poetry"  Poems composed starting in August 2022
"Books" -This folder contains books of poetry from 1938-2016, all family writing.
"Poetic Tides Through Time" -National Poetry Writing Month entries for 2017
"2017 Poetry" -Poetry composed in 2017
"2016 Poetry Assignments and Practice" -Poems I wrote for "~ The Poet's Place Cafe~" .
"2016 Poetry " -Recent contest entries
"Poetry" -Poetry I wrote, some before and some after, joining WDC
"Short Stories" -Just what it says:)
Blogs I am keeping: "Journal" ,"Moments of Memories" 

Enjoy your visit, let me know you were here.

The House by the Side of The Road

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the place of their self-content;
There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran -
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by -
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner's seat
Or hurl the cynic's ban -
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife,
But I turn not away from their smiles and their tears,
Both part of an infinite plan -
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead,
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away into night.
And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
         Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road,
It's here the race of men go by -
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish - so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Sam Walter Foss (1838-1911)

Come back and visit 'the house by the side of the road' anytime!

A Gift for You ▼