The Native Land
from The Spanish Of Francisco De Aldana
The Native Land - meaning Summary
Longing for a Heavenly Homeland
Longfellow's poem presents the native land as a radiant, spiritual homeland rather than a physical country. The speaker contrasts earthly life—a prison-house of flesh—with a luminous realm of truth where the soul exists in ethereal freedom. Exile and longing drive the poem's voice, which consoles itself with the promise that love and aspiration will eventually bring the soul to that blessed dwelling beyond death.
Read Complete AnalysesClear fount of light! my native land on high, Bright with a glory that shall never fade! Mansion of truth! without a veil or shade, Thy holy quiet meets the spirit's eye. There dwells the soul in its ethereal essence, Gasping no longer for life's feeble breath; But, sentinelled in heaven, its glorious presence With pitying eye beholds, yet fears not, death. Beloved country! banished from thy shore, A stranger in this prison-house of clay, The exiled spirit weeps and sighs for thee! Heavenward the bright perfections I adore Direct, and the sure promise cheers the way, That, whither love aspires, there shall my dwelling be.
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