There is a land, of every land the pride, <br />Beloved by heaven, o'er all the world beside; <br />Where brighter suns dispense serener light, <br />And milder moons emparadise the night; <br />A land of beauty, virtue, valour, truth, <br />Time-tutor'd age, and love-exalted youth; <br />The wand'ring mariner, whose eye explores <br />The wealthiest isles, the most enchanting shores, <br />Views not a realm so bountiful and fair, <br />Nor breathes the spirit of a purer air. <br />In ev'ry clime the magnet of his soul, <br />Touch'd by remembrance, trembles to that pole; <br />For in this land of heaven's peculiar grace, <br />The heritage of nature's noblest race, <br />There is a spot of earth, supremely blest, <br />A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest, <br />Where man, creation's tyrant, casts aside <br />His sword and sceptre, pageantry and pride, <br />While in his soften'd looks benignly blend <br />The sire, the son, the husband, brother, friend: <br />Here woman reigns; the mother, daughter, wife, <br />Strews with fresh flowers the narrow path of life; <br />In the clear heaven of her delightful eye <br />An angel-guard of loves and graces lie; <br />Around her knees domestic duties meet, <br />And fire-side pleasures gambol at her feet. <br />Where shall that land, that spot of earth, be found? <br />Art thou a man? a patriot? look around; <br />Oh, thou shalt find, howe'er thy footsteps roam, <br />That land thy country, and that spot thy home.<br /><br />James Montgomery<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/home-207/
