Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PHANTOM HOST, by CLAUDE HOUGHTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PHANTOM HOST, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: I caught the whispered tread of phantom feet
Last Line: Slunk vanquished death with low down-bended head.
Subject(s): Death; Dead, The


I CAUGHT the whispered tread of phantom feet,
Like hosts of dead leaves stirred to sudden flight,
And leaning forth into the wondering night
I saw the dead men marching down the street;
Unnumbered, numberless, in ranks complete,
Beneath the argent moon's blue-silver light,
A world of dead men passed before my sight
To muffled music low and softly sweet.

There shone a light within their strange dead eyes,
That is not born of death, that knows not life,
A light of triumph, peace, and holy dread.
Amid the shadows, cheated of his prize,
With blunted scythe outworn with sterile strife,
Slunk vanquished Death with low down-bended head.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net