Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE OLD HOUSE by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY

First Line: O KINDLY HOUSE, WHERE TIME MY SOUL ENDOWS
Last Line: NOW FALLS THE EVENING LIGHT. GOD GIVE THEE PEACE!
Subject(s): HOUSES; MEMORY;

O KINDLY house, where time my soul endows
With courage, hope, and patience manifold
How shall my debt of love to thee be told,
Since first I heard the sweet-voiced robins rouse
The morn among thy ancient apple-boughs?
Here was I nourished on the truths of old,
Here taught against new times to make me bold,
Memory and hope thy door-posts, O dear house!

Heaven's blessing rested on thy dark-gray roof,
And clasped thy children, age to lapsing age,
Birth and the grave thy tale till time's release;
Poverty did not hold from thee aloof;
Of lowly good thou wast the hermitage;
Now falls the evening light. God give thee peace!



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