~The Book Of Wonder Encyclopaedia~

~Poetry - Gerald Gould~

~Wander-Thirst~

			      Beyond the East the Sunrise;
			            beyond the West the sea;
			      And East and West the Wander-Thirst
				    that will not let me be;
			      It works in me like madness
				    to bid me say good-bye,
			      For the seas call, and the stars call,
				    and oh! the call of the sky!

			      I know not where the white road runs,
				    nor what the blue hills are,
			      But a man can have the sun for friend,
				    and for his guide a star;
			      And there's no end of voyaging
				    when once the voice is heard,
			      For the rivers call, and the road calls,
				    and oh! the call of a bird!

			      Yonder the long horizon lies,
				    and there by night and day
			      The old ships draw to home again,
				    the young ships sail away;
			      And come I may, but go I must,
				    and if men ask you why,
			      You may put the blame on the stars and the sun,
				    and the white road and the sky.