From My Childhood Days

From my childhood days, from my childhood days,
  Rings an old song's plaintive tone--
  Oh, how long the ways, oh, how long the ways
  I since have gone!

  What the swallow sang, what the swallow sang,
  In spring or in autumn warm--
  Do its echoes hang, do its echoes hang
  About the farm?

  "When I went away, when I went away,
  Full coffers and chests were there;
  When I came today, when I came today,
  All, all was bare!"

  Childish lips so wise, childish lips so wise,
  With a lore as rich as gold,
  Knowing all birds' cries, knowing all birds' cries,
  Like the sage of old!

  Ah, the dear old place--ah, the dear old place * * *
  May its sweet consoling gleam
  Shine upon my face, shine upon my face,
  Once in a dream!

  When I went away, when I went away,
  Full of joy the world lay there;
  When I came today, when I came today,
  All, all was bare.

  Still the swallows come, still the swallows come,
  And the empty chest is filled--
  But this longing dumb, but this longing dumb
  Shall ne'er be stilled.

  Nay, no swallow brings, nay, no swallow brings
  Thee again where thou wast before--
  Though the swallow sings, though the swallow sings,
  Still as of yore.

  "When I went away, when I went away,
  Full coffers and chests were there;
  When I came today, when I came today,
  All, all was bare!"