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Seeking Joy
by
William Henry Davies


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Joy, how I sought thee!
Silver I spent and gold,
On the pleasures of this world,
In splendid garments clad;
The wine I drank was sweet,
Rich morsels I did eat— --
Oh, but my life was sad!
Joy, how I sought thee!

Joy, I have found thee!
Far from the halls of Mirth,
Back to the soft green earth,
Where people are not many;
I find thee, Joy, in hours
With clouds, and birds, and flowers
— --
Thou dost not charge one penny.
Joy, I have found thee!


This poem is in the public domain.

 


William Henry Davies (1871-1940) was a Welsh poet who started out as a rounder but ended up a respected poet. Raised by grandparents after his father died and his mother remarried, William was inclined toward a life of adventure; he traveled by boat to North America repeatedly before losing a leg in attempting to jump a train. He eventually returned to England, wrote a book about his wandering years, paid and starved his way into becoming a published poet and, eventually, gained equal standing with such contemporaries as Yeats and Ezra Pound.

 


Post New Comment:
wordartdjc:
What a very sweet poem. I rreally enjoy reading the poets of earlier times. We are certainly blessed to have such ardor for this old, sometimes unhappy world.
Posted 05/01/2019 09:32 AM
paradea:
I think I would have liked him. Love the poem!!!
Posted 05/01/2019 08:43 AM


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