Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEN, by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES Poet Analysis First Line: They sleep together in one den Last Line: Came here to die, not sleep -- the swine!' Alternate Author Name(s): Davies, W. H. Subject(s): Death; Dead, The | ||||||||
They sleep together in one den, Ten in a row -- ten beds, ten men; Three dying men are in that room, Whose coughs at night will soon become Death's rattle: drunkards in bed Sound as they worried things half dead. Jim Lasker dreamt, when in that den, He saw ten beds that had ten men; One sleeper in a sack was sewn, With nothing of his features shown: Jim felt that face he could not see -- 'This face is mine, I'm dead,' said he. . . . . . . 'James Lasker, you're the last to rise; Wake up, wake up!' the master cries. 'You've not paid me for daylight's sleep -- Suppose you had some kids to keep? Ah, now I see: this man of mine Came here to die, not sleep -- the swine!' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND A BIRD'S ANGER by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES |
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