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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
HERE STOOD A HOUSE, by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR First Line: Here stood a house; we now can only guess Last Line: Enlightening death, to me. Subject(s): Houses, Deserted | |||
HERE stood a house; we now can only guess From what scant lore the bare foundation yields The building's fashion, whose calm comeliness Complacent looked across the fruitful fields, This was a home -- now fire has laughed and fled Leaving a wreck instead. THIS was a home for human comfort raised -- Now the shy creatures of the air and grass Nest in the blackened pit and start amazed If any human foot too near them pass. Merciless tranquil Nature takes again The land she lent to men. BUT pity not this house, for while it stood Its walls were warm with comfort and enshrined Glad hearts that savoured life and found it good. It was a temple of the quiet mind. Its very altar's consecrated glow Has wrought its overthrow. HERE was no shameful torture of decay; The vivid end with sudden glory came. In terrible beauty all was swept away, Man's dearest art translated into flame. So swift and shining may thy coming be, Enlightening Death, to me. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BEYOND THE HUNTING WOODS by DONALD JUSTICE RUINS UNDER THE STARS by GALWAY KINNELL ABANDONED FARMHOUSE by TED KOOSER NORTH OF ALLIANCE by TED KOOSER BLUE SUNDAY by KENNETH REXROTH THE MIRROR IN THE WOODS by KENNETH REXROTH THE DESERTED HOUSE by MARY ELIZABETH COLERIDGE THE DESERTED HOUSE by ALFRED TENNYSON A LYNMOUTH WIDOW by AMELIA JOSEPHINE BURR |
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