PoemThe West Wind
Author / PoetJohn Masefield
TagsHomecoming, Nature, Nostalgia, Renewal

It’s a warm wind, the west wind, full of birds’ cries;
I never hear the west wind but tears are in my eyes.
For it comes from the west lands, the old brown hills.
And April’s in the west wind, and daffodils.

It’s a fine land, the west land, for hearts as tired as mine,
Apple orchards blossom there, and the air’s like wine.
There is cool green grass there, where men may lie at rest,
And the thrushes are in song there, fluting from the nest.

“Will ye not come home, brother? Ye have been long away,
It’s April, and blossom time, and white is the May;
And bright is the sun brother, and warm is the rain,—
Will ye not come home, brother, home to us again?

“The young corn is green, brother, where the rabbits run.
It’s blue sky, and white clouds, and warm rain and sun.
It’s song to a man’s soul, brother, fire to a man’s brain,
To hear the wild bees and see the merry spring again.

“Larks are singing in the west, brother, above the green wheat,
So will ye not come home, brother, and rest your tired feet?
I’ve a balm for bruised hearts, brother, sleep for aching eyes,”
Says the warm wind, the west wind, full of birds’ cries.

It’s the white road westwards is the road I must tread
To the green grass, the cool grass, and rest for heart and head,
To the violets, and the warm hearts, and the thrushes’ song,
In the fine land, the west land, the land where I belong.

John Masefield
John Masefield
1 Jun 1878 - 12 May 1967
Region: Northern Europe
Period: Modernist
Movement: Georgian Poetry
Awards: Order of Merit

more poems by John Masefield

Poem NameTopic
Trade WindsCaribbean, Dance, Island
The Yarn of the Loch AchrayNautical, Sailor, Ship
The WandererClipper, Sea, Ship
The LemmingsInstinct, Lost Hope, Migration
The Tarry BuccaneerAdventure, Pirate, Sea
The Island of SkyrosDeath, Graves, Memory
The Everlasting MercyRebellion, Reflection, Regret
Sea FeverAdventure, Freedom, Longing
RoadwaysBeauty, Journey, Sailor
Reynard The Fox – Part 2Night, Survival, Wilderness

all poems by John Masefield

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