Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


TWO HOUSES by CHARLES MACKAY

First Line: TWILL OVERTASK A THOUSAND MEN
Last Line: SHUT UP THE DOOR TILL DOOM!
Subject(s): HOLIDAYS; HOUSES; NEW YEAR;

"'TWILL overtask a thousand men,
With all their strength and skill,
To build my Lord ere New Year's eve
His castle on the hill."
"Then take two thousand," said my Lord,
"And labor with a will."

They wrought, these glad two thousand men,
But long ere winter gloom,
My Lord had found a smaller house,
And dwelt in one dark room;
And one man built it in one day,
While bells rang ding, dong, boom!
Shut up the door! shut up the door!
Shut up the door till Doom!



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