Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
France: Vols. IX–X. 1876–79. | | | | Introductory | | France | | Charles d’Orleans (1394–1465) |
| | Translated by Louisa Stuart Costello
I STOOD upon the wild sea-shore, | |
| And marked the wide expanse; | |
| My straining eyes were turned once more | |
| To long-loved, distant France: | |
| I saw the sea-bird hurry by | 5 |
| Along the waters blue; | |
| I saw her wheel amid the sky, | |
| And mock my tearful, eager eye, | |
| That would her flight pursue. | |
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| Onward she darts, secure and free, | 10 |
| And wings her rapid course to thee! | |
| O that her wing were mine, to soar, | |
| And reach thy lovely land once more! | |
| O Heaven! it were enough to die | |
| In my own, my native home,— | 15 |
| One hour of blessed liberty | |
| Were worth whole years to come! | | | | |
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