Poems, Series 1

XV. The Lonely House.

Subscribe for ad free access & additional features for teachers. Authors: 267, Books: 3,607, Poems & Short Stories: 4,435, Forum Members: 71,154, Forum Posts: 1,238,602, Quizzes: 344

Literature Network>> Emily Dickinson >> Poems, Series 1 >> XV. The Lonely House.

XV. The Lonely House.

I know some lonely houses off the road

A robber 'd like the look of, --

Wooden barred,

And windows hanging low,

Inviting to

A portico,

Where two could creep:

One hand the tools,

The other peep

To make sure all's asleep.

Old-fashioned eyes,

Not easy to surprise!

How orderly the kitchen 'd look by night,

With just a clock, --

But they could gag the tick,

And mice won't bark;

And so the walls don't tell,

None will.

A pair of spectacles ajar just stir --

An almanac's aware.

Was it the mat winked,

Or a nervous star?

The moon slides down the stair

To see who's there.

There's plunder, -- where?

Tankard, or spoon,

Earring, or stone,

A watch, some ancient brooch

To match the grandmamma,

Staid sleeping there.

Day rattles, too,

Stealth's slow;

The sun has got as far

As the third sycamore.

Screams chanticleer,

"Who's there?"

And echoes, trains away,

Sneer -- "Where?"

While the old couple, just astir,

Fancy the sunrise left the door ajar!

Literature Network >> Emily Dickinson >> Poems, Series 1 >> XV. The Lonely House.

About Emily Dickinson

Text

Summary

Preface.

Prelude

I. Life

I. Success.

II.

III. Rouge et Noir.

IV. Rouge Gagne.

V.

VI.

VII. Almost!

VIII.

IX.

X. In a Library.

XI.

XII.

XIII. Exclusion.

XIV. The Secret.

XV. The Lonely House.

XVI.

XVII. Dawn.

XVIII. The Book of Martyrs.

XIX. The Mystery of Pain.

XX.

XXI. A Book.

XXII.

XXIII. Unreturning.

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

II. Love

I. Mine.

II. Bequest.

III.

IV. Suspense.

V. Surrender.

VI.

VII. With a Flower.

VIII. Proof.

IX.

X. Transplanted.

XI. The Outlet.

XII. In Vain.

XIII. Renunciation.

XIV. Love's Baptism.

XV. Resurrection.

XVI. Apocalypse.

XVII. The Wife.

XVIII. Apotheosis.

III. Nature

I.

II. May-Flower.

III. Why?

IV.

V.

VI. A Service of Song.

VII.

VIII. Summer's Armies.

IX. The Grass.

X.

XI. Summer Shower.

XII. Psalm of the Day.

XIII. The Sea of Sunset.

XIV. Purple Clover.

XV. The Bee.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX. Two Worlds.

XXI. The Mountain.

XXII. A Day.

XXIII.

XXIV. The Wind.

XXV. Death and Life.

XXVI.

XXVII. Indian Summer.

XXVIII. Autumn.

XXIX. Beclouded.

XXX. The Hemlock.

XXXI.

IV. Time and Eternity

I.

II. Too Late.

III. Astra Castra.

IV.

V.

VI. From the Chrysalis.

VII. Setting Sail.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI. "Troubled About Many Things."

XII. Real.

XIII. The Funeral.

XIV.

XV.

XVI. Refuge.

XVII.

XVIII. Playmates.

XIX.

XX.

XXI. The First Lesson.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV. Dying.

XXVI.

XXVII. The Chariot.

XXVIII.

XXIX. Resurgam.

XXX.

XXXI.

XXXII.

XXXIII. Along the Potomac.

XXXIV.

XXXV. Emancipation.

XXXVI. Lost.

XXXVII.

XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

XL.

Sorry, no summary available yet.

Art of Worldly Wisdom Daily

In the 1600s, Balthasar Gracian, a jesuit priest wrote 300 aphorisms on living life called "The Art of Worldly Wisdom." Join our newsletter below and read them all, one at a time.

Email:

Sonnet-a-Day Newsletter

Shakespeare wrote over 150 sonnets! Join our Sonnet-A-Day Newsletter and read them all, one at a time.