Author: Arthur Hugh Clough

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    Come back, come back, behold with straining mast
    And swelling sail, behold her steaming fast;
    With one new sun to see her voyage oer,
    With morning light to touch her native shore.
            Come back, come back.

    Come back, come back, while westward labouring by,
    With sailless yards, a bare black hulk we fly.
    See how the gale we fight with sweeps her back,
    To our lost home, on our forsaken track.
            Come back, come back.

    Come back, come back, across the flying foam,
    We hear faint far-off voices call us home,
    Come back, ye seem to say; ye seek in vain;
    We went, we sought, and homeward turned again.
            Come back, come back.

    Come back, come back; and whither back or why?
    To fan quenched hopes, forsaken schemes to try;
    Walk the old fields; pace the familiar street;
    Dream with the idlers, with the bards compete.
            Come back, come back.

    Come back, come back; and whither and for what?
    To finger idly some old Gordian knot,
    Unskilled to sunder, and too weak to cleave,
    And with much toil attain to half-believe.
            Come back, come back.

    Come back, come back; yea back, indeed, do go
    Sighs panting thick, and tears that want to flow;
    Fond fluttering hopes upraise their useless wings,
    And wishes idly struggle in the strings;
            Come back, come back.

    Come back, come back, more eager than the breeze,
    The flying fancies sweep across the seas,
    And lighter far than oceans flying foam,
    The hearts fond message hurries to its home.
            Come back, come back

    Come back, come back!
    Back flies the foam; the hoisted flag streams back;
    The long smoke wavers on the homeward track,
    Back fly with winds things which the winds obey,
    The strong ship follows its appointed way.

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: The poem is a poignant exploration of longing, nostalgia, and the human desire to return to familiar places and experiences. The repeated refrain, "Come back, come back," underscores the speaker's yearning, creating a melancholic and somewhat desperate tone that pervades the entire piece.

The poem's structure is regular, with consistent repetition and rhyme, reflecting the relentless pull of the past. The metaphor of the ship journeying homeward is employed throughout the poem, symbolizing the human journey through life and the struggle against hardships, much like a ship against a storm. The ship also stands as a testament to the speaker's deep-rooted desire to return home, despite the challenges presented.

The poet dwells on the idea of revisiting 'quenched hopes' and 'forsaken schemes,' suggesting the universal human tendency to cling to the past, even when it's unproductive or painful. The reference to the 'old Gordian knot' introduces a sense of futility and frustration, hinting at the complex, intractable problems that one might face in life.

The poem is rich in imagery, from the 'swelling sail' to the 'flying foam,' creating vivid pictures of the sea voyage that mirror the emotional journey the speaker is undergoing. The powerful use of personification in the final stanzas, where 'fond fluttering hopes' and 'wishes' struggle and the 'hearts fond message hurries to its home,' enhances the emotional intensity of the poem.

In summary, this poem is a compelling exploration of longing, memory, and the consuming desire to return to the past. It combines rich maritime imagery with a strong emotional narrative, resulting in a piece that is both visually stunning and deeply resonant in its portrayal of human emotion.