Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OPEN WINDOW, by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OPEN WINDOW, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The old house by the lindens
Last Line: I pressed his warm, soft hand!


The old house by the lindens
Stood silent in the shade,
And on the gravelled pathway
The light and shadow played.

I saw the nursery windows
Wide open to the air;
But the faces of the children,
They were no longer there.

The large Newfoundland house-dog
Was standing by the door;
He looked for his little playmates,
Who would return no more.

They walked not under the lindens,
They played not in the hall;
But shadow, and silence, and sadness
Were hanging over all.

The birds sang in the branches,
With sweet, familiar tone;
But the voices of the children
Will be heard in dreams alone!

And the boy that walked beside me,
He could not understand
Why closer in mine, ah! closer,
I pressed his warm, soft hand!







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