Haunted Houses — H.W. Longfellow
Theme
Every house is "haunted" — not by frightening ghosts, but by the gentle presence of those who lived (and died) there before us. The past and present, the living and the dead, share the same space.Summary
The poet says all houses are haunted by harmless phantoms that come and go silently. These spirits outnumber the living and sit beside us at the table. The world of the dead is connected to ours like a bridge of light (a "vibration"); our restless thoughts and impulses are partly the pull of these spirits across that bridge.Key points
- The ghosts are peaceful, not horrifying — a calm, philosophical view of death.
- Sense of continuity between past inhabitants and the present.
- Title is ironic: "haunted" suggests fear, but the poem brings comfort.
Devices
- Imagery (phantoms, the "bridge of light"), metaphor, alliteration.
- Regular rhyme and rhythm give a quiet, meditative tone.