Livingstone's Soliloquy

"My heart to-day     Is strangely full of home!     How is it     With the dear ones over there?     Five years!     Five long-drawn years!     And one short moment is enough         To alter life's complexion for eternity!     Home! Home! Home!          *             *             *             *             *     How is it with you all     At Home?          *             *             *             *             *     And you, my dearest one,     Are ever nearer to me than the rest!     Your body lies     Beneath the baobab     In far Shapanga;     But your soul is ever nearest     When I need you most.     Where a man's treasure is     His heart is.     And half my heart is buried there with you,     And half works on for Africa.     Home! Home! Home!          *             *             *             *             *     Why should such thought of home     Drag at my heart to-day?     Why should I longer roam?     Why should I not go home?     Five years of toilsome wanderings     May claim a rest!          *             *             *             *             *     Nay! God knows best!     When He sees well     He'll take me home and give me well-earned rest.     The work is not yet done.     This land of Night     Is not yet fully opened to the Son     And His fair Light.     But--when the work is done--     Ah--then!--how gladly will I go--     Home!--Home--Home!--     To rest!"