Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON SOME GHOSTLY COMPANIONS AT A SPA, by ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON SOME GHOSTLY COMPANIONS AT A SPA, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: I had an evil day when I
Last Line: Find it, ye ogres, and be off!
Alternate Author Name(s): Stevenson, Robert Lewis Balfour
Subject(s): Fantasy; Giants


I HAD an evil day when I
To Strathpeffer drew anigh,
For there I found no human soul,
But ogres occupied the whole.
They had at first a human air
In coats and flannel underwear.
They rose and walked upon their feet
And filled their bellies full of meat,
Then wiped their lips when they had done --
But they were ogres every one.
Each issuing from his secret bower
I marked them in the morning hour.
By limp and totter, lisp and droop
I singled each one from the group.
Detected ogres, from my sight
Depart to your congenial night
From these fair vales: from this fair day
Fleet, spectres, on your downward way,
Like changing figures in a dream
To Muttonhole and Pittenweem!
Or, as by harmony divine
The devils quartered in the swine,
If any baser place exist
In God's great registration list --
Some den with wallow and a trough --
Find it, ye ogres, and be off!





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