Upon Returning to the Country Road

Even the shrewd and bitter,         Gnarled by the old world's greed,         Cherished the stranger softly         Seeing his utter need.         Shelter and patient hearing,         These were their gifts to him,         To the minstrel, grimly begging         As the sunset-fire grew dim.         The rich said "You are welcome."         Yea, even the rich were good.         How strange that in their feasting         His songs were understood!         The doors of the poor were open,         The poor who had wandered too,         Who had slept with ne'er a roof-tree         Under the wind and dew.         The minds of the poor were open,         Their dark mistrust was dead.         They loved his wizard stories,         They bought his rhymes with bread.         Those were his days of glory,         Of faith in his fellow-men.         Therefore, to-day the singer         Turns beggar once again.