Skip to content
Linespedia

Mine Host

By John McCrae

Topics: classic

There stands a hostel by a travelled way; Life is the road and Death the worthy host; Each guest he greets, nor ever lacks to say, "How have ye fared?"    They answer him, the most, "This lodging place is other than we sought; We had intended farther, but the gloom Came on apace, and found us ere we thought: Yet will we lodge.    Thou hast abundant room." Within sit haggard men that speak no word, No fire gleams their cheerful welcome shed; No voice of fellowship or strife is heard But silence of a multitude of dead. "Naught can I offer ye," quoth Death, "but rest!" And to his chamber leads each tired guest.

AI analysis available. Enable JavaScript to interact.

About this line

"There stands a hostel by a travelled way;..."

Exploring the themes of classic, John McCrae delivers a powerful performance in "Mine Host"... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

Attribution & Rights

Author:John McCrae

"There stands a hostel by a travelled way;..." by John McCrae

For usage rights, copyright concerns, or to report an issue with this content, please visit our Copyright & Report page.

Related lines

""Delicta juventutis et ignorantius ejus, quoesumus ne memineris, Domine." I left, to earth, a little maiden fair, With locks of gold, and eyes that"

"He wrought in poverty, the dull grey days, But with the night his little lamp-lit room Was bright with battle flame, or through a haze Of smoke tha"

"O guns, fall silent till the dead men hear Above their heads the legions pressing on: (These fought their fight in time of bitter fear, And died no"

"Beneath her window in the fragrant night I half forget how truant years have flown Since I looked up to see her chamber-light, Or catch, perchance,"

"Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met     Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,     And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,     S"

"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

John McCrae

About John McCrae

John McCrae (1872–1918) was a Canadian poet, physician, and soldier who wrote "In Flanders Fields" after the Second Battle of Ypres in 1915. The poem became the most famous work of World War I and established the poppy as a symbol of remembrance.

Full Bibliography
Continue Reading

""Delicta juventutis et ignorantius ejus, quoesumus..."

Weekly Poetic Insight

Join our literary Sanctuary

Get the most inspiring lines, poetic analysis, and secret shayaris delivered to your inbox every Sunday.