Who occupies this House? 1
A Stranger I must judge
Since No one know His Circumstance－
'Tis well the name and age
Are writ upon the Door 5
Or I should fear to pause
Where not so much as Honest Dog
Approach encourages.
It seems a curious Town－ 9
Some Houses very old,
Some－newly raised this Afternoon,
Were I compelled to build
It should not be among 13
Inhabitants so still
But where the Birds assemble
And Boys were possible.
Before Myself was born 17
'Twas settled, so they say,
A Territory for the Ghosts－
And Squirrels, formerly.
Until a Pioneer, as 21
Settlers often do
Liking the quiet of the Place
Attracted more unto－
And from a Settlement 25
A Capital has grown
Distinguished for the gravity
Of every Citizen.
The Owner of this House 29
A Stranger He must be－
Eternity's Acquaintances
Are mostly so－to me.
A Stranger I must judge
Since No one know His Circumstance－
'Tis well the name and age
Are writ upon the Door 5
Or I should fear to pause
Where not so much as Honest Dog
Approach encourages.
It seems a curious Town－ 9
Some Houses very old,
Some－newly raised this Afternoon,
Were I compelled to build
It should not be among 13
Inhabitants so still
But where the Birds assemble
And Boys were possible.
Before Myself was born 17
'Twas settled, so they say,
A Territory for the Ghosts－
And Squirrels, formerly.
Until a Pioneer, as 21
Settlers often do
Liking the quiet of the Place
Attracted more unto－
And from a Settlement 25
A Capital has grown
Distinguished for the gravity
Of every Citizen.
The Owner of this House 29
A Stranger He must be－
Eternity's Acquaintances
Are mostly so－to me.
(F.1069/J.892)
[1–5] House, well the name and age, writ upon the Door:: a grave and tombstone.
[9] a Curious Town:: a cemetery.
[10] Some Houses very old:: old graves.
[11] Some newly raised:: new graves.
[14] Inhabitants so still:: a hint on the death.
[18] 'Twas settled:: the place was a burying ground originally.
[19] Territory for the Ghosts:: a hint on grave.
[29] The Owner of this House:: God.
[30] A Stranger He must be::
[31] Eternity:: a hint on the death and God.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2)
