Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

JOHN MOULDY by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE

Poet Analysis

First Line: I SPIED JOHN MOULDY IN HIS CELLAR
Last Line: SMILING THERE ALONE.
Subject(s): CELLARS; BASEMENTS;
I spied John Mouldy in his cellar,
Deep down twenty steps of stone;
In the dusk he sat a-smiling,
Smiling there alone.

He read no book, he snuffed no candle;
The rats ran in, the rats ran out;
And far and near, the drip of water
Went whisp'ring about.

The dusk was still, with dew a-falling,
I saw the Dog-star bleak and grim,
I saw a slim brown rat of Norway
Creep over him.

I spied John Mouldy in his cellar,
Deep down twenty steps of stone;
In the dusk he sat a-smiling,
Smiling there alone.



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