Classic and Contemporary Poetry
IN HOSPITAL: 24. SUICIDE, by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Staring corpselike at the ceiling Last Line: Yet so slavish, makes you shudder! Alternate Author Name(s): Henley, W. E. Subject(s): Hospitals; Suicide | ||||||||
Staring corpselike at the ceiling, See his harsh, unrazored features, Ghastly brown against the pillow, And his throat -- so strangely bandaged! Lack of work and lack of victuals, A debauch of smuggled whiskey, And, although his knife was edgeless, He was sinking fast towards one, When they came, and found, and saved him. Stupid now with shame and sorrow, In the night I hear him sobbing. But sometimes he talks a little. He has told me all his troubles. In his broad face, tanned and bloodless, White and wild his eyeballs glisten; And his smile, occult and tragic, Yet so slavish, makes you shudder! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOARDMAN AND COFFIN by CONRAD AIKEN FOR THE SUICIDES OF TWO YEARS AGO by DONALD JUSTICE SEVEN STREAMS OF NEVIS by GALWAY KINNELL DIDO AND AENEAS by CHARLES MARTIN I COULD NOT TELL by SHARON OLDS POOR DEVIL! by STEPHEN VINCENT BENET THE DREAM SONGS: 145 by JOHN BERRYMAN BALLADE OF DEAD ACTORS by WILLIAM ERNEST HENLEY |
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