'The House with Nobody in It' by Joyce Kilmer
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Whenever I walk to Suffern along the Erie track
I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black.
I suppose I've passed it a hundred times, but I always stop for a minute
And look at the house, the tragic house, the house with nobody in it.
I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things;
That they hold the talk of spirits, their mirth and sorrowings.
I know this house isn't haunted, and I wish it were, I do;
For it wouldn't be so lonely if it had a ghost or two.
This house on the road to Suffern needs a dozen panes of glass,
And somebody ought to weed the walk and take a scythe to the grass.
It needs new paint and shingles, and the vines should be trimmed and tied;
But what it needs the most of all is some people living inside.
If I had a lot of money and all my debts were paid
I'd put a gang of men to work with brush and saw and spade.
I'd buy that place and fix it up the way it used to be
And I'd find some people who wanted a home and give it to them free.
Now, a new house standing empty, with staring window and door,
Looks idle, perhaps, and foolish, like a hat on its block in the store.
But there's nothing mournful about it; it cannot be sad and lone
For the lack of something within it that it has never known.
But a house that has done what a house should do,
a house that has sheltered life,
That has put its loving wooden arms around a man and his wife,
A house that has echoed a baby's laugh and held up his stumbling feet,
Is the saddest sight, when it's left alone, that ever your eyes could meet.
So whenever I go to Suffern along the Erie track
I never go by the empty house without stopping and looking back,
Yet it hurts me to look at the crumbling roof and the shutters fallen apart,
For I can't help thinking the poor old house is a house with a broken heart.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The House with Nobody in It: An In-Depth Analysis
Are you the type of person who loves to explore abandoned houses? Do you ever wonder what happened to the people who used to live there and why they left? If so, then you'll definitely appreciate Joyce Kilmer's poem The House with Nobody in It.
In this 12-line poem, Kilmer takes us on a journey through an empty house that used to be filled with life. The house is now in ruins, and there is no one left to tell its story. Kilmer's use of language and imagery creates a haunting atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
The Structure of the Poem
Before we dive into the content of the poem, let's first take a look at its structure. The House with Nobody in It is a short poem consisting of three stanzas. The first two stanzas are quatrains, while the final stanza is a couplet.
The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABCB, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming. The second and fourth lines of each quatrain also rhyme with each other. The couplet at the end of the poem deviates from this pattern, with the final two lines rhyming with each other.
This structure gives the poem a sense of cohesion and balance. The use of quatrains also creates a sense of progression, with each stanza building upon the previous one.
The Language and Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of The House with Nobody in It is Kilmer's use of language and imagery. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the abandoned house, which help to create a haunting atmosphere.
The first stanza sets the scene, with Kilmer describing the house as "lonely" and "still". The second stanza focuses on specific details of the house, such as the "weeds" growing in the yard and the "boarded windows". These details help to paint a picture of a once-beautiful house that has been left to decay.
In the final stanza, Kilmer brings the poem full circle by returning to the idea of the house being "lonely". However, this time there is a sense of finality, as Kilmer describes the house as being "done". The use of the word "done" gives the poem a sense of closure, as if the house's story has come to an end.
Another interesting aspect of the poem is Kilmer's use of personification. Throughout the poem, she gives human-like qualities to the house and its surroundings. For example, in the first stanza, she describes the house as being "lonely" and "still", as if it is a person who has been abandoned.
In the second stanza, Kilmer personifies the "weeds" in the yard, describing them as "intruders". This personification adds to the sense of decay and neglect that permeates the poem.
The Theme of Loss
At its core, The House with Nobody in It is a poem about loss. The loss of a home, the loss of a family, and the loss of a way of life. Kilmer's use of language and imagery creates a sense of sadness and melancholy that is palpable throughout the poem.
The idea of loss is most evident in the final stanza, where Kilmer describes the house as being "done". This word suggests that the house has reached the end of its life cycle and that there is no hope for its restoration.
However, there is also a sense of beauty in the poem's exploration of loss. Kilmer's descriptions of the abandoned house are hauntingly beautiful, and there is a sense of nostalgia in her words.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The House with Nobody in It is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the idea of loss in a powerful way. Kilmer's use of language and imagery creates a sense of sadness and melancholy that is palpable throughout the poem.
The poem's structure and rhyme scheme give it a sense of cohesion and balance, while its use of personification adds depth and complexity.
Overall, The House with Nobody in It is a masterful work of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a testament to Joyce Kilmer's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of the human experience in just a few short lines.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The House with Nobody in It: A Poetic Masterpiece by Joyce Kilmer
Joyce Kilmer, an American poet, journalist, and literary critic, is best known for his poem "Trees." However, his poem "The House with Nobody in It" is a lesser-known but equally powerful work of art. This poem is a beautiful and haunting depiction of a house that has been abandoned and left to decay. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand its deeper meaning.
The poem begins with a description of the house, "Whenever I walk to Suffern along the Erie track / I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black." The speaker sets the scene by describing the location of the house, which is on the outskirts of town. The use of the word "poor" suggests that the house is in a state of disrepair and neglect. The description of the broken and black shingles further emphasizes the dilapidated state of the house.
The next stanza describes the interior of the house, "I suppose I've passed it a hundred times, but I always stop for a minute / And look at the house, the tragic house, the house with nobody in it." The repetition of the word "house" emphasizes the central focus of the poem. The use of the word "tragic" suggests that the house has a sad story to tell. The phrase "the house with nobody in it" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of emptiness and loneliness.
The third stanza describes the surroundings of the house, "I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things; / That they hold the talk of spirits, their mirth and sorrowings." The speaker acknowledges that he has never seen a haunted house, but he suggests that this house could be one. The use of the word "spirits" suggests that the house has a supernatural presence. The phrase "their mirth and sorrowings" suggests that the spirits have a range of emotions, including joy and sadness.
The fourth stanza describes the memories that the house holds, "I know this house isn't haunted, and I wish it were, I do; / For it wouldn't be so lonely if it had a ghost or two." The speaker acknowledges that the house is not haunted, but he wishes it were. The use of the word "lonely" emphasizes the sense of emptiness that the house conveys. The phrase "if it had a ghost or two" suggests that the presence of ghosts would bring life to the house.
The fifth stanza describes the history of the house, "This house on the road to Suffern needs a dozen panes of glass, / And somebody ought to weed the walk and take a scythe to the grass." The speaker acknowledges the physical needs of the house, such as the broken windows and overgrown grass. The use of the word "ought" suggests that someone should take care of the house. The phrase "on the road to Suffern" suggests that the house was once a part of the community.
The sixth stanza describes the future of the house, "It needs new paint and shingles, and the vines should be trimmed and tied; / But what it needs the most of all is some people living inside." The speaker acknowledges that the house needs physical repairs, but he suggests that it needs people more than anything else. The use of the word "needs" emphasizes the importance of human presence. The phrase "living inside" suggests that the house is currently empty.
The final stanza describes the emotional impact of the house, "If I had a lot of money and all my debts were paid / I'd put a gang of men to work with brush and saw and spade. / I'd buy that place and fix it up the way it used to be / And I'd find some people who wanted a home and give it to them free." The speaker acknowledges that he cannot fix the house himself, but he wishes he could. The use of the word "gang" suggests that the repairs would require a significant amount of work. The phrase "the way it used to be" suggests that the house was once a happy home. The final line of the poem, "And I'd find some people who wanted a home and give it to them free," suggests that the speaker wants to give the house a new life and purpose.
In conclusion, "The House with Nobody in It" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of loneliness, abandonment, and the importance of human connection. The imagery and language used in the poem create a sense of emptiness and sadness, but the final line offers a glimmer of hope. Joyce Kilmer's poetic masterpiece reminds us of the importance of taking care of our homes and the people who live in them.
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