The Restless Call of Wander-Thirst

Why do we long for distant horizons? Gerald Gould’s poem reminds us that the soul carries a compass pointing beyond comfort, toward the unknown.

Wander-Thirst

Gerald Gould

BEYOND the East the sunrise, beyond the West the sea,
And East and West the wander-thirst that will not let me be;
It works in me like madness, dear, to bid me say good-bye;
For the seas call, and the stars call, and oh! the call of the sky!

I know not where the white road runs, nor what the blue hills are;
But a man can have the sun for a friend, and for his guide a star;
And there’s no end of voyaging when once the voice is heard,
For the rivers call, and the roads call, and oh! the call of the bird!

Yonder the long horizon lies, and there by night and day
The old ships draw to home again, the young ships sail away;
And come I may, but go I must, and, if men ask you why,
You may put the blame on the stars and the sun and the white road and the sky.

Source

Poignant Reflection

Gerald Gould’s Wander-Thirst speaks of the unshakable longing that lives in every human heart—the desire to move, to seek, to cross borders both real and imagined. It is not only the urge to travel, but the pull of destiny whispering that our lives are meant for more than stillness. This “thirst” is both a blessing and a burden: it propels us toward discovery, yet keeps us restless even in the comfort of home.

Perhaps what Gould captures most beautifully is the idea that wanderlust is less about geography and more about the soul’s unyielding hunger to grow. We wander not just to see the world, but to see ourselves anew in it. Every step outward becomes a step inward, uncovering truths that only movement can reveal.

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Three Questions to Go Deeper

1. When you feel restless, is it the world calling you—or your own soul urging you toward change?
2. How might “wander-thirst” be satisfied without travel—through books, imagination, or inner exploration?
3. Could restlessness itself be a gift, keeping us from becoming too comfortable with the ordinary?