Classic Poem

From my childhood days, from my childhood days,
Rings an old song's plaintive tone—
Oh, how long the ways, oh, how long the ways
I since have gone!

What the swallow sang, what the swallow sang,
In spring or in autumn warm—
Do its echoes hang, do its echoes hang
About the farm?

“When I went away, when I went away,
Full coffers and chests were there;
When I came today, when I came today,
All, all was bare!”

Childish lips so wise, childish lips so wise,
With a lore as rich as gold,
Knowing all birds' cries, knowing all birds' cries,
Like the sage of old!

Ah, the dear old place—ah, the dear old place
May its sweet consoling gleam
Shine upon my face, shine upon my face,
Once in a dream!

When I went away, when I went away,
Full of joy the world lay there;
When I came today, when I came today,
All, all was bare.

Still the swallows come, still the swallows come,
And the empty chest is filled—
But this longing dumb, but this longing dumb
Shall ne'er be stilled.

Nay, no swallow brings, nay, no swallow brings
Thee again where thou wast before—
Though the swallow sings, though the swallow sings,
Still as of yore.

“When I went away, when I went away,
Full coffers and chests were there;
When I came today, when I came today,
All, all was bare!”