I DWELL in a lonely house I know
That vanished many a summer ago,
And left no trace but the cellar walls,
And a cellar in which the daylight falls,
And the purple-stemmed wild raspberries grow.

O’er ruined fences the grape-vines shield
The woods come back to the mowing field;
The orchard tree has grown one copse
Of new wood and old where the woodpecker chops;
The footpath down to the well is healed.

I dwell with a strangely aching heart
In that vanished abode there far apart
On that disused and forgotten road
That has no dust-bath now for the toad.
Night comes; the black bats tumble and dart;

The whippoorwill is coming to shout
And hush and cluck and flutter about:
I hear him begin far enough away
Full many a time to say his say
Before he arrives to say it out.

It is under the small, dim, summer star.
I know not who these mute folk are
Who share the unlit place with me–
Those stones out under the low-limbed tree
Doubtless bear names that the mosses mar.

They are tireless folk, but slow and sad,
Though two, close-keeping, are lass and lad,–
With none among them that ever sings,
And yet, in view of how many things,
As sweet companions as might be had.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Robert Frost's poem Ghost House

59 Comments

  1. Mushahid Syed says:

    This poem, in my opinion, screams, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Additionally, it seems to stress how lonesome death is. In fact, this is one of the first poems by Robert Frost that I’ve read in almost ten years. This is a stunning piece of art.

  2. mel says:

    It is a poem well worth multiple readings. I didn’t understand it at all at first but still loved the beauty it’s phrasing and words. Very poignant. I now also read it as he is dead. His first words are “I dwell in a lonely house i know.” And later, “I know not who these mute people are who share the unlit place with me.” mournful but with some hint of redemption. Nature seems to be retaking some of the setting. and there is some grace in his slow, sad and tireless folk. Sounds like a man contemplating death or grieving.

  3. Janna says:

    Whattt help anyone???

  4. viacris loon says:

    I really don’t I understand but this poem I think it was a great story.

  5. Solomon says:

    The poem ghost house is elegant yet moving in a way that can not be described.

  6. your mom says:

    Thank you for all you smart people who actually understand this poem, I am using this for a research paper where I have to analyze these poems of his, and this helped me a lot. 🙂

  7. main says:

    when was this poem made and where was it made at?

  8. Rana S. says:

    Robert in this poem represented the Amrican poeple who were at that time feeling lonly . I think because they were from different countries and this makes them losing communication with each other and accordingly feel lonly .

  9. eric chestnut says:

    It has been quite some time since I have read this piece. The poem haunts me still,in a subtle way, as it should and was intended. Live now, reflect, appreciate, and learn. All fires eventually burn out leaving charred dust and ashes in the silent cold night where they once were. Frost took the time too analize many facets of life and I’m grateful for all his efforts including this one.

  10. BB says:

    this is a great poem and it is amazing

  11. keojames says:

    This poem is written in a reflective mood. The Poetic seeks to show the stillness and the peace of death. The house that the ghost used to live in has changed. The path which was trodden has returned to its original state. Reference made to the bird is that it is still alive and they (the dead people) are mute folks. no words can escape their mouths anymore. All points to the peace that surrounds death.

  12. Michael Jackson says:

    this poem was the worst ever. You should be ashamed with a poem like that

  13. Dr. Susay says:

    This poem is stupid. It makes me feel gay. I don’t like it at all.

  14. Eric chestnut says:

    I didn’t like the poem it was really long and the ryhming was off

  15. g. Kats says:

    “I know not who these mute folks are who share this unlit place with me” I believe that frost is speaking from the point of view of a man already dead. Possably even foreseeing his own death.Frost is Known for his ability to mix the cycle of mans life with that of natures, here again he has splendly meshed the natural rythm of both.

  16. mike says:

    This poem is something worth reading over and over again… i enjoyed the use of words he chose along with how he made the rhythm run so smoothly. One of my favorite from him so far.

  17. Jenna says:

    I interpreted this poem to be about Frost revisiting his old house that he had once had many memories, loved ones, and a lot of his life. He is seeing it again and expressing his lonlyness. He is a lonly man and says he will forever be there with them and never forget. The imagery he uses shows how important this place was to him and the ppl in it. He had good memories but then again they are only memories and cannot be relived. Hope that helps some ppl.

  18. Keekee says:

    I love dis one holla back

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