Longing. The green road, the clean road : it is so broad andhigh ; It stretches from the happy sea to touch the happy sky. Oh ! I laughed once to forsake it, but I’m longing nowto take it— The green road, the clean road, that is so broad andhigh. The gray street, the gay street : how solemnly itshines ! The sun imprints his pleasures, but there’s painbetween the lines. Oh, I smiled at first to see it, but I’m eager now toflee it— The gray street, the gay street : how solemnly it shines ! The pure love, the sure love comes over me like rain ; The tinsel of my heartless love is turning poor andplain. It’s my life I have been giving just to make a decentliving, It’s my all I have been losing just to get a little gain. The nest song, the best song is crying swift and sweet : The tune’s within my bosom, but the time’s not inmy feet. Ah ! they only sing for pity, do the voices in the city. Did you ever hear a homely song sound happy in thestreet ? The gray street, the gay street : for me it holds norest, Not even when the summer sun is sailing down thewest ; And I cannot find my pleasure in a road my sight canmeasure From the little room I dwell in with a memory formy guest. The green road, the clean road : it is so broad andhigh, It stretches from the happy sea to touch the happy sky. Oh, to rise and part with sadness ! oh, to move andmeet with gladness, On the green road, the clean road, that is so broadand high ! J. J. Bell .