Trust and treachery, wisdom, folly, <br />Madness, mirth and melancholy, <br />Love and hatred, thrift and pillage, <br />All are housed in every village. <br />And in such a world’s mixed being, <br />Where may peace, from ruin fleeing, <br />Find fit shelter and inherit <br />All the calm of her own merit? <br /> <br />In a bark of gentle motion <br />Sailing on the summer ocean? <br />There worst war the tempest wages, <br />And the hungry whirlpool rages. <br /> <br />In some lonely new-world bower <br />Hidden like a forest flower? <br />There, too, there, to fray the stranger <br />Stalks the wild-eyed savage, danger! <br /> <br />In some Alpine cot, by fountains <br />Flowing from snow-shining mountains? <br />There the avalanches thunder, <br />Crushing all that lieth under! <br /> <br />In some hermit-tent, pitched lowly <br />Mid the tombs of prophets holy? <br />There to harry and annoy her <br />Roams the infidel destroyer. <br /> <br />In palatial chambers gilded, <br />Guarded round with towers high-builded? <br />Change may enter these to-morrow, <br />And with change may enter sorrow. <br /> <br />Find, O peace, thy home of beauty <br />In the steadfast heart of duty, <br />Dwelling ever there, and seeing <br />God through every phase of being <br /> <br /> <br /><br /><br />Charles Harpur<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-home-of-peace/
