Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE HOUSE OF CLAY, by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK Poet's Biography First Line: There was a house, a house of clay Last Line: And shuts the door. Alternate Author Name(s): Mulock, Dinah Maria | ||||||||
THERE was a house, a house of clay, Wherein the inmate sat all day, Merry and poor; For Hope sat with her, heart to heart, Fond and kind, fond and kind, Vowing he never would depart, -- Till all at once he changed his mind: "Sweetheart, good by!" He slipped away And shut the door. But Love came past, and, looking in, With smile that pierced like sunbeam thin Through wall, roof, floor, Stood in the midst of that poor room, Grand and fair, grand and fair, Making a glory out of gloom: -- Till at the window mocked grim Care: Love sighed; "All lose, and nothing win?" -- He shut the door. Then o'er the close-barred house of clay Kind clematis and woodbine gay Crept more and more; And bees hummed merrily outside, Loud and strong, loud and strong, The inner silentness to hide, The patient silence all day long; Till evening touched with finger gray The bolted door. Most like, the next step passing by Will be the Angel's, whose calm eye Marks rich, marks poor: Who, fearing not, at any gate Stands and calls, stands and calls; At which the inmate opens straight, -- Whom, ere the crumbling clay-house falls, He takes in kind arms silently, And shuts the door. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DOUGLAS, DOUGLAS, TENDER AND TRUE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK HER LIKENESS by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK NOW AND AFTERWARDS by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK ONLY A WOMAN by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK PHILIP, MY KING by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A 'MERCENARY' MARRIAGE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A CHILD'S SMILE by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A CHRISTMAS CAROL by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A DEAD BABY by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK A DEAD SEA-GULL; NEAR LIVERPOOL by DINAH MARIA MULOCK CRAIK |
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