Sweet Stay-at-Home, sweet Well-content, <br />Thou knowest of no strange continent; <br />Thou hast not felt thy bosom keep <br />A gentle motion with the deep; <br />Thou hast not sailed in Indian seas, <br />Where scent comes forth in every breeze. <br />Thou hast not seen the rich grape grow <br />For miles, as far as eyes can go: <br />Thou hast not seen a summer's night <br />When maids could sew by a worm's light; <br />Nor the North Sea in spring send out <br />Bright hues that like birds flit about <br />In solid cages of white ice -- <br />Sweet Stay-at-Home, sweet Love-one-place, <br />Thou hast not seen black fingers pick <br />White cotton when the bloom is thick, <br />Nor heard black throats in harmony; <br />Nor hast thou sat on stones that lie <br />Flat on the earth, that once did rise <br />To hide proud kings from common eyes. <br />Thou hast not seen plains full of bloom <br />Where green things had such little room <br />They pleased the eye like fairer flowers -- <br />Sweet Stay-at-Home, all these long hours. <br />Sweet Well-content, sweet Love-one-place, <br />Sweet, simple maid, bless thy dear face; <br />For thou hast made more homely stuff <br />Nurture thy gentle self enough; <br />I love thee for a heart that's kind -- <br />Not for the knowledge in thy mind.<br /><br />William Henry Davies<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/sweet-stay-at-home/
