The rain beats dark against the glass, The wind sniffs at the eaves. Tonight the groaning oak will lose The last of summer's leaves. Mary, go unlatch the door And bid the stranger enter. I know how cruelly bites the wind When autumn turns to winter. Dear mother, I've unlatched the door -- No one is knocking there, Except the wind which blows cold rain Against my face and hair. Mary, light another lamp And put it near the pane. I know how dark a road can be On howling nights of rain. Dear mother, there's no lamp at all To light the ruts and bogs. The only light in this bare room Is from the burning logs. Then Mary, feed the fire more wood, And when the fire is fed, Thank God for giving you tonight A roof above your head. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HAWK by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS WISHES TO HIS SUPPOSED MISTRESS by RICHARD CRASHAW DIRGE OF RORY O'MORE; 1642 by AUBREY THOMAS DE VERE LAST SONNET (REVISED VERSION) by JOHN KEATS ODES: BOOK 1. ODE 1. PREFACE by MARK AKENSIDE GREATER LOVE by ANTIPATER OF SIDON PSALM 23 by HENRY WILLIAMS BAKER |