Emily Dickinson: The Lonely House

E m i l y   D i c k i n s o n

(1830-1886)

 

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!

 

Emily Dickinson poetry

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