Lonely House

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h1>THE LONELY HOUSE.</h1> <h2>by EMILY DICKINSON</h2> <br/> I know some lonely houses off the road<br/> A robber 'd like the look of, &mdash;<br/> Wooden barred,<br/> And windows hanging low,<br/> Inviting to<br/> A portico,<br/> Where two could creep:<br/> One hand the tools,<br/> The other peep<br/> To make sure all's asleep.<br/> Old-fashioned eyes,<br/> Not easy to surprise!<br/> <br/> How orderly the kitchen 'd look by night,<br/> With just a clock, &mdash;<br/> But they could gag the tick,<br/> And mice won't bark;<br/> And so the walls don't tell,<br/> None will.<br/> <br/> A pair of spectacles ajar just stir &mdash;<br/> An almanac's aware.<br/> Was it the mat winked,<br/> Or a nervous star?<br/> The moon slides down the stair<br/> To see who's there.<br/> <br/> There's plunder, &mdash; where?<br/> Tankard, or spoon,<br/> Earring, or stone,<br/> A watch, some ancient brooch<br/> To match the grandmamma,<br/> Staid sleeping there.<br/> <br/> Day rattles, too,<br/> Stealth's slow;<br/> The sun has got as far<br/> As the third sycamore.<br/> Screams chanticleer,<br/> "Who's there?"<br/> And echoes, trains away,<br/> Sneer &mdash; "Where?"<br/> While the old couple, just astir,<br/> Fancy the sunrise left the door ajar!<br/> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />