Edgar Albert Guest

Home

It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it
    home,
 A heap o’ sun an’ shadder, an’ ye sometimes
    have t’ roam
 Afore ye really 'preciate the things ye lef’
    behind,
 An’ hunger fer ‘em somehow, with ’em allus
    on yer mind.
 It don’t make any differunce how rich ye get
    t’ be,
 How much yer chairs an’ tables cost, how great
    yer luxury;
 It ain’t home t’ ye, though it be the palace of a
    king,
 Until somehow yer soul is sort o’ wrapped round
    everything.
 Home ain’t a place that gold can buy or get up
    in a minute;
 Afore it’s home there’s got t’ be a heap o’ livin’
    in it;
 Within the walls there’s got t’ be some babies
    born, and then
 Right there ye’ve got t’ bring 'em up t’ women
    good, an’ men;
 And gradjerly as time goes on, ye find ye
    wouldn’t part
 With anything they ever used—they’ve grown
    into yer heart:
 The old high chairs, the playthings, too, the
    little shoes they wore
 Ye hoard; an’ if ye could ye’d keep the
    thumb-marks on the door.
 Ye’ve got t’ weep t’ make it home, ye’ve got t’
    sit an’ sigh
 An’ watch beside a loved one’s bed, an’ know
    that Death is nigh;
 An’ in the stillness o’ the night t’ see Death’s
    angel come,
 An’ close the eyes o’ her that smiled, an’ leave
    her sweet voice dumb.
 Fer these are scenes that grip the heart, an’
    when yer tears are dried,
 Ye find the home is dearer than it was, an’
    sanctified;
 An’ tuggin’ at ye always are the pleasant
    memories
 O’ her that was an’ is no more—ye can’t escape
    from these.
 Ye’ve got t’ sing an’ dance fer years, ye’ve got
    t’ romp an’ play,
 An’ learn t’ love the things ye have by usin’ ‘em
    each day;
 Even the roses ’round the porch must blossom
    year by year
 Afore they 'come a part o’ ye, suggestin’
    someone dear
 Who used t’ love 'em long ago, an’ trained 'em
    jes t’ run
 The way they do, so’s they would get the early
    mornin’ sun;
 Ye’ve got t’ love each brick an’ stone from
    cellar up t’ dome:
 It takes a heap o’ livin’ in a house t’ make it
    home.
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