• The House by the Side of the Road
    There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
    in the peace of their self-content;
    There are souls like stars, that dwell apart,
    in a fellowless firmament;

  • There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
    where highways never ran-
    but let me live by the side of the road
    and be a friend to man.

  • Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
    where the race of men go by-
    The men who are good, and the men who are bad,
    as good and as bad as I.

  • I would not sit in the scorner’s seat,
    or hurl the cynic’s ban-
    let me live in a house by the side of the road
    and be a friend to man.

  • I see from my house by the side of the road,
    by the side of the highway of life,
    The men who press with the ardor of hope,
    the men who are faint with the strife.

  • But I turn not away from their smiles, nor their tears-
    both parts of an infinite plan;
    let me live in a house by the side of the road
    and be a friend to man.

  • I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead
    and mountains of wearisome height;
    And the road passes on through the long afternoon
    and stretches away to the night.

  • But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,
    And weep with the strangers that moan,
    Nor live in my house by the side of the road
    Like a man who dwells alone.

  • Let me live in my house by the side of the road
    where the race of men go by-
    They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
    wise, foolish, so am I.

  • Then why should I sit in the scorner’s seat
    or hurl the cynic’s ban? -
    Let me live in my house by the side of the road
    and be a good friend to man.

  • By Sam Walter Foss
    From “Dreams in Homespun”