The Wanderer (Teasdale)

For works with similar titles, see The Wanderer.

The Wanderer by Sara Teasdale

From Helen of Troy and Other Poems Part II and Love Songs Part III

I saw the sunset-colored sands,
      The Nile like flowing fire between,
      Where Rameses stares forth serene,
And Ammon's heavy temple stands.

I saw the rocks where long ago,
      Above the sea that cries and breaks,
      Bright Perseus with Medusa's snakes
Set free the maiden white like snow.

And many skies have covered me,
      And many winds have blown me forth,
      And I have loved the green bright north,
And I have loved the cold sweet sea.

But what to me are north and south,
      And what the lure of many lands,
      Since you have leaned to catch my hands
And lay a kiss upon my mouth.

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1923. The author died in 1933, so this work is also in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 75 years or less. This work may also be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.