Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE LODGING HOUSE FIRE, by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES Poet Analysis First Line: My birthday - yesterday Last Line: Poison the score. Alternate Author Name(s): Davies, W. H. Subject(s): Fire; Hotels; Inns; Innskeepers; Motels; Boarding Houses | ||||||||
My birthday -- yesterday, Its hours were twenty-four; Four hours I lived lukewarm, And killed a score. I woke eight times and rose, Came to our fire below, Then sat four hours and watched Its sullen glow. Then out four hours I walked, The lukewarm four I live, And felt no other joy Than air can give. My mind durst know no thought, It knew my life too well: 'Twas hell before, behind, And round me hell. Back to that fire again, Ten hours I watch it now, And take to bed dim eyes, And fever's brow. Ten hours I give to sleep, More than my need, I know; But I escape my mind And that fire's glow. For listen: it is death To watch that fire's glow; For, as it burns more red Men paler grow. O better in foul room That's warm, make life away, Than homeless out of doors, Cold night and day. Pile on the coke, make fire, Rouse its death-dealing glow; Men are borne dead away Ere they can know. I lie; I cannot watch Its glare from hour to hour; It makes one sleep, to wake Out of my power. I close my eyes and swear It shall not wield its power; No use, I wake to find A murdered hour. Lying between us there! That fire drowsed me deep, And I wrought murder's deed -- Did it in sleep. I count us, thirty men, Huddled from Winter's blow, Helpless to move away From that fire's glow. So goes my life each day -- Its hours are twenty-four -- Four hours I live lukewarm, And kill a score. No man lives life so wise But unto Time he throws Morsels to hunger for At his life's close. Were all such morsels heaped -- Time greedily devours, When man sits still -- he'd mourn So few wise hours. But all my day is waste, I live a lukewarm four And make a red coke fire Poison the score. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LOOKING FOR THE GULF MOTEL by RICHARD BLANCO WHAT THE MAGDALENE SAW by TIMOTHY LIU REMOVED AT THE MOMENT OF PERFECTION by TIMOTHY LIU MARRY AT A HOTEL, ANNUL ?ÇÖEM by HARRYETTE MULLEN THE KEEPER OF THE DEAD HOTEL by AGHA SHAHID ALI IN GEORGETOWN; HOLIDAY INN, WASHINGTON, D.C. by HAYDEN CARRUTH OUTSIDE ROOM SIX by LYNN EMANUEL A BIRD'S ANGER by WILLIAM HENRY DAVIES |
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