Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE DEAD FEAST OF THE KOL-FOLK, by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: We have opened the door Last Line: Come home! Subject(s): Asia; Far East; East Asia; Orient | ||||||||
WE have opened the door, Once, twice, thrice! We have swept the floor, We have boiled the rice. Come hither, come hither! Come from the far lands, Come from the star lands, Come as before! We lived long together, We loved one another; Come back to our life. Come father, come mother, Come sister and brother, Child, husband, and wife, For you we are sighing. Come take your old places, Come look in our faces, The dead on the dying, Come home! We have opened the door, Once, twice, thrice! We have kindled the coals, And we boil the rice For the feast of souls. Come hither, come hither! Think not we fear you, Whose hearts are so near you. Come tenderly thought on, Come all unforgotten, Come from the shadow-lands, From the dim meadow-lands Where the pale grasses bend Low to our sighing. Come father, come mother, Come sister and brother, Come husband and friend, The dead to the dying, Come home! We have opened the door You entered so oft; For the feast of souls We have kindled the coals, And we boil the rice soft. Come you who are dearest To us, who are nearest, Come hither, come hither, From out the wild weather; The storm clouds are flying, The peepul is sighing; Come in from the rain. Come father, come mother, Come sister and brother, Come husband and lover, Beneath our roof-cover. Look on us again, The dead on the dying, Come home! We have opened the door! For the feast of souls We have kindled the coals We may kindle no more! Snake, fever, and famine, The curse of the Brahmin, The sun and the dew, They burn us, they bite us, They waste us and smite us; Our days are but few! In strange lands far yonder To wonder and wander We hasten to you. List then to our sighing, While yet we are here: Nor seeing nor hearing, We wait without fearing To feel you draw near. O dead, to the dying Come home! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE DIATRIBE OF THE KITE; FOR KHENPO KARTHAR RINPOCHE by NORMAN DUBIE GUNS AS KEYS: AND THE GREAT GATE SWINGS by AMY LOWELL ASIAN BIRDS by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES MAHMOUD by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT THE NOBLEMAN AND THE PENSIONER by GOTTLIEB KONRAD PFEFFEL THE LEPER (2) by NATHANIEL PARKER WILLIS AMY WENTWORTH; FOR WILLIAM BRADFORD by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER |
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