'Tis fine to see the Old World and travel up and down <br />Among the famous palaces and cities of renown, <br />To admire the crumblyh castles and the statues and kings <br />But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things. <br /> <br />So it's home again, and home again, America for me! <br />My heart is turning home again and there I long to be, <br />In the land of youth and freedom, beyond the ocean bars, <br />Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars. <br /> <br />Oh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air; <br />And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair; <br />And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome; <br />But when it comes to living there is no place like home. <br /> <br />I like the German fir-woods in green battalions drilled; <br />I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing foutains filled; <br />But, oh, to take your had, my dear, and ramble for a day <br />In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her sway! <br /> <br />I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack! <br />The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back. <br />But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free-- <br />We love our land for what she is and what she is to be. <br /> <br />Oh, it's home again, and home again, America for me! <br />I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea, <br />To the blessed Land of Room Enough, beyond the ocean bars, <br />Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars.<br /><br />Henry Van Dyke<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/america-for-me/
