The House by the Side of the Road

The House by the Side of the Road for John

THERE are hermit souls that live withdrawn In the place of their self-content; There are souls like stars, that dwell apart, In a fellowless firmament; There are pioneer souls that blaze the paths Where highways never ran- But let me live by the side of the roadAnd be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road Where the race of men go by-The men who are good and the men who are bad, As good and as bad as I. I would not sit in the scorner's seat Nor hurl the cynic's ban- Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road By the side of the highway of life, The men who press with the ardor of hope, The men who are faint with the strife, But I turn not away from their smiles and tears, Both parts of an infinite plan- Let me live in a house by the side of the road And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead, And mountains of wearisome height; That the road passes on through the long afternoon And stretches away to the night. And still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice And weep with the strangers that moan, Nor live in my house by the side of the road Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road, Where the race of men go by- They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong, Wise, foolish - so am I. Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat, Or hurl the cynic's ban? Let me live in my house by the side of the road And be a friend to man.

Sam Walter Foss

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Comment by Sweettina2 on March 22, 2019 at 6:07pm: Thank you, @Doc, my fav.

@James Roberts That is one of my fav scriptures, very apropos. Thank you!

There are some things we hold sacred, like a code we live by, a creed. This poem and that scripture are sacred to me. It's who I am. I hoped someone else might enjoy it.

Comment by James Roberts on March 21, 2019 at 8:29pm

"Are we bad men, Rust?"
"The world needs bad men, Marty. Bad men keep the other bad men from the door."

- True Detective, season 1

ecclisiastes 3 1-8

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 
A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which 
is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to 
build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, 
and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, 
and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a 
time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.