<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">The House of Life</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">The</span> life of the body's a cage,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And the soul within it</p><p class="line">Frets to escape, to be free,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Like a lark or a linnet.</p><p class="line">But since the struggle's in vain,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">She is weary ere long;</p><p class="line">She chirps and she sings a little</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">To assuage her wrong.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Behind the bars she sits brooding</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%"> Her evil mishap,</p><p class="line">Like a wild little hare or a rabbit</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That's caught in a trap,</p><p class="line">Till, dazed with despair, she is weary,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">And struggles no more,</p><p class="line">But plays with the sun and leaf-shadow</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">That dance on the floor.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">They call—they call to each other</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">O sister so small,</p><p class="line">Are you there? Are you there, little brother, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Behind the blank wall?</p><p class="line">Like a bird, or a hare, or a rabbit, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Frightened, undone, </p><p class="line">The soul calls to another,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">be not alone.</p></div></body></html> · Great War