The Deserted HouseFirst printed in 1830, omitted in all the editions till 1848 when it was restored. The poem is of course allegorical, and is very much in the vein of many poems in Anglo-Saxon poetry.1Life and Thought have gone awaySide by side,Leaving door and windows wide:2All within is dark as night:In the windows is no light;And no murmur at the door,So frequent on its hinge before.3Close the door, the shutters close,Or thro’[1]the windows we shall seeThe nakedness and vacancyOf the dark deserted house.4Come away: no more of mirthIs here or merry-making sound.The house was builded of the earth,And shall fall again to ground.5Come away: for Life and ThoughtHere no longer dwell;But in a city glorious—A great and distant city—have boughtA mansion incorruptible.Would they could have stayed with us![1]1848 and 1851. Through.
First printed in 1830, omitted in all the editions till 1848 when it was restored. The poem is of course allegorical, and is very much in the vein of many poems in Anglo-Saxon poetry.
1
Life and Thought have gone awaySide by side,Leaving door and windows wide:
2
All within is dark as night:In the windows is no light;And no murmur at the door,So frequent on its hinge before.
3
Close the door, the shutters close,Or thro’[1]the windows we shall seeThe nakedness and vacancyOf the dark deserted house.
4
Come away: no more of mirthIs here or merry-making sound.The house was builded of the earth,And shall fall again to ground.
5
Come away: for Life and ThoughtHere no longer dwell;But in a city glorious—A great and distant city—have boughtA mansion incorruptible.Would they could have stayed with us!
[1]1848 and 1851. Through.