by Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933)
The Wanderer
Language: English
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.
Confirmed with Sara Teasdale, Helen of Troy And Other Poems, The Project Gutenberg, 1996
Text Authorship:
- by Sara Teasdale (1884 - 1933), "The Wanderer", appears in Helen of Troy and Other Poems, first published 1910 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Jodi Goble (b. 1974), "The Wanderer" [ mezzo-soprano and piano ], from Three Teasdale Songs, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2025-10-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 107