The House-Top. a Night Piece. (July, 1863.)
This poem describes a night scene where the speaker sits on a house-top, observing the city below. The atmosphere is one of quiet and stillness, with only the distant sounds of a church bell and a clock striking the hour breaking the silence. The speaker reflects on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of human existence.
By Herman Melville · First published 1863 · Genre: Poetry, Historical, Social Commentary · 328 words
First lines
No sleep. The sultriness pervades the air / And binds the brain -- a dense oppression, such / As tawny tigers feel in matted shades, / Vexing their blood and making apt for ravage. / Beneath the stars the roofy desert spreads / Vacant as Libya. All is hushed near by. / Yet fitfully from far breaks a mixed surf / Of muffled sound, the Atheist roar of riot. / Yonder, where parching Sirius set in drought, / Balefully glares red Arson -- there-and there. / The Town is taken by its rats -- ship-rats. / And rats of the wharves. All civil charms / And priestly spells which late held hearts in awe -- / Fear-bound, subjected to a better sway / Than sway of self; these like a dream dissolve, / And man rebounds whole eons back in nature.[9] / Hail to the low dull rumble, dull and dead, / And ponderous drag that shakes the wall. / Wise Draco comes, deep in the midnight roll / Of black artillery; he comes, though late; / In code corroborating Calvin's creed / And cynic tyrannies of honest kings; / He comes, nor parlies; and the Town redeemed, / Give thanks devout; nor, being thankful, heeds / The grimy slur on the Republic's faith implied, / Which holds that Man is naturally good, / And -- more -- is Nature's Roman, never to be scourged.
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing poetic devices such as imagery, metaphor, and rhythm.
- Historical — The piece references specific historical events and settings, notably the July 1863 New York City draft riots.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal issues, such as civil unrest and the nature of humanity, reflecting on the moral and social state of the time.
- Philosophical — The work explores themes of human nature, morality, and the conflict between civilization and chaos.
Tags
Poetry · Nighttime · Imagery · Symbolism · Dreams · Fantasy · Literary Fragment · Experimental Form · Free Verse · Stream-of-Consciousness · Inner Life · Psychological Insight
What this Textopian page supports
The House-Top. a Night Piece. (July, 1863.) is listed on Textopian as a poem by Herman Melville, dated 1863 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Herman Melville
- Date: 1863 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Historical, Social Commentary, Philosophical, Dark Romanticism
- Length: 328 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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