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THE DESERTED HOUSE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Life and thought have gone away
Last Line: Would they could have stayed with us!
Alternate Author Name(s): Tennyson, Lord Alfred; Tennyson, 1st Baron; Tennyson Of Aldworth And Farringford, Baron
Subject(s): Houses, Deserted


I

LIFE and Thought have gone away
Side by side,
Leaving door and windows wide;
Careless tenants they!

II

All within is dark as night:
In the windows is no light;
And no murmur at the door,
So frequent on its hinge before.

III

Close the door, the shutters close,
Or thro' the windows we shall see
The nakedness and vacancy
Of the dark deserted house.

IV

Come away; no more of mirth
Is here or merry-making sound.
The house was builded of the earth,
And shall fall again to ground.

V

Come away; for Life and Thought
Here no longer dwell,
But in a city glorious --
A great and distant city -- have bought
A mansion incorruptible.
Would they could have stayed with us!







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