Somewhat back from the broad highway An old house stands, deserted and gray; O'er its rafters crumbled and low, Gnarled apple branches finger slow. Gone are the laughter and the noise, Gone are the happy girls and boys; No more is heard the whoop and din Of happy voices from within. Scattered are they o'er vale and hill; Ah, some of them are lying still; -- Old tree like a guardsman stands And reach forth his mighty hands. Weeds have grown 'round the open door; Dust lies thick on the oaken floor. Faithful, the old tree guards it still, And mosses gray creep o'er the sill. Somewhat back from the broad highway, The old house stands deserted and gray, Sheltered now by the appletree, Wrapped in blossoms and memory. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BUNCH OF GRAPES by GEORGE HERBERT THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 51. WILLOWWOOD (3) by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI TO AN INDEPENDENT PREACHER by MATTHEW ARNOLD DIRGE by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD PREPARATION by THOMAS EDWARD BROWN A PARAPHRASE ON THE COLLECT FOR ADVENT SUNDAY by JOHN BYROM |