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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


UNDERWOODS: BOOK 1: 17. HENRY JAMES by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHO COMES TO-NIGHT? WE OPE THE DOORS IN VAIN
Last Line: COMES (BEST OF ALL) HIMSELF -- OUR WELCOME JAMES.
Subject(s): GUESTS; NIGHT; VISITING; BEDTIME;

WHO comes to-night? We ope the doors in vain.
Who comes? My bursting walls, can you contain
The presences that now together throng
Your narrow entry, as with flowers and song,
As with the air of life, the breath of talk?
Lo, how these fair immaculate women walk
Behind their jocund maker; and we see
Slighted @3De Mauves@1, and that far different she,
@3Gressie@1, the trivial sphynx; and to our feast
@3Daisy@1 and @3Bard@1 and @3Chancellor@1 (she not least!)
With all their silken, all their airy kin,
Do like unbidden angels enter in.
But he, attended by these shining names,
Comes (best of all) himself -- our welcome James.



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