--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Upon the clothes behind the tenement…" description: "\"Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like ghosts suspended from the lines, Linking each flat, but to each indifferent, Incongruous and stran..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/claude-mckay-29093_clothes_upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-tha_639234.jpg" --- # Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like… ![“Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like ghosts suspended from the lines, Linking each flat, but to each indifferent, Incongruous and strange the moonlight shines.” quote by Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/claude-mckay-29093_clothes_upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-tha_639234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/claude-mckay-29093_clothes_upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-tha_639234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/claude-mckay-29093_clothes_upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-tha_639234.jpg) > “Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like ghosts suspended from the lines, Linking each flat, but to each indifferent, Incongruous and strange the moonlight shines.” [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The image juxtaposes hanging laundry with ghostly silhouettes, highlighting urban anonymity and the eerie beauty of moonlit streets. **In simple terms:** Urban night feels haunted and beautiful. Key Takeaway Notice hidden beauty in everyday scenes. Themes urban life loneliness beauty night ghostly Mood melancholic reflective Type poetic observational When to use this quote - walking home - late night work - city photography - urban planning Key Concepts symbolism contrast visual metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How does night change your perception of the city? - What stories might the laundry tell? A Different Perspective May overlook the humanity of residents. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Clothes Tenement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes-tenement-5135582/) [Ghosts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghosts/) [Ghosts Suspended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghosts-suspended-5135580/) [Indifferent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indifferent/) [Like Ghosts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-ghosts-291017/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Moonlight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moonlight/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Suspended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suspended/) [Tenement Hang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenement-hang-5135581/) ## Related quotes > [We stood up and bade each other farewell, but love and despair stood between us like two ghosts, one stretching his wings with his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/we-stood-up-and-bade-each-other-farewell-but-love-and-despair-stood/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [True love is like ghosts; which everybody talks about and just few have seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nessanicolee/true-love-is-like-ghosts-which-everybody-talks-about-and-just-few/) [NessaNicolee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nessanicolee/) > [True love is like ghosts, which everyone talks about and few have seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/true-love-is-like-ghosts-which-everyone-talks-about-and-few-have-seen/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“It's as if they'd heard that there are values one is supposed to honor and this is what one does to honor them --…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/it-s-as-if-they-d-heard-that-there-are-values-one-is-supposed-to/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [I like everything that has to do with ghosts. If I see it, I'm all over it. We all have our thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-brannagh/i-like-everything-that-has-to-do-with-ghosts-if-i-see-it-i-m-all-over/) [Brigid Brannagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-brannagh/) > [“Thanks so much for seeing, the first time you met us, that even though we’re like ghosts, the two of us, even though we’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/thanks-so-much-for-seeing-the-first-time-you-met-us-that-even-though/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [I like ghosts. I like friends. I like couplets. I like the idea of a mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-wier/i-like-ghosts-i-like-friends-i-like-couplets-i-like-the-idea-of-a/) [Dara Wier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-wier/) > [Oh, give us pleasure in the orch-ard white, Like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-frost/oh-give-us-pleasure-in-the-orch-ard-white-like-nothing-else-by-day/) [Robert Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-frost/) > [True love is like ghosts,which everybody talks about,but few have seen..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-like-ghosts-which-everybody-talks-about-but-few-have-seen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It seemed my whole life was composed of these disjointed fractions of time, hanging around in one public place and then another, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/it-seemed-my-whole-life-was-composed-of-these-disjointed-fractions-of/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [Like other ghosts, she whispers; not for me to join her, but so that, when I'm close enough, she can push me back into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-michaels/like-other-ghosts-she-whispers-not-for-me-to-join-her-but-so-that/) [Anne Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-michaels/) > [“True love is like ghosts which many believe in, but few have seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-like-ghosts-which-many-believe-in-but-few-have-seen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It was always late at night, when everything and everyone else was quiet, that those voices would rise like ghosts, soft and haunting, filling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/it-was-always-late-at-night-when-everything-and-everyone-else-was/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“I try to find the books that I lost or forgot more than 30 years ago on another continent, with the hope and dedication…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-bola-o/i-try-to-find-the-books-that-i-lost-or-forgot-more-than-30-years-ago/) [Roberto Bolaño](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-bola-o/) > [True love is like ghosts... everybody talks about it... but few has seen it..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-love-is-like-ghosts-everybody-talks-about-it-but-few-has-seen-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Claude McKay > [And, hungry for the old, familiar ways, I turned aside and bowed my head and wept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/and-hungry-for-the-old-familiar-ways-i-turned-aside-and-bowed-my-head/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [“Newton appeared more nervously emphatic in his manner since Sunday when the Senegambians left him in his underwear and Delta had to hurry down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/newton-appeared-more-nervously-emphatic-in-his-manner-since-sunday/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [Deep in the secret chambers of my heart I muse my life-long hate, and without flinch I bear it nobly as I live my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/deep-in-the-secret-chambers-of-my-heart-i-muse-my-life-long-hate-and/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [The shivering birds beneath the eaves Have sheltered for the night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/the-shivering-birds-beneath-the-eaves-have-sheltered-for-the-night/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [“If We Must Die If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/if-we-must-die-if-we-must-die-let-it-not-be-like-hogs-hunted-and/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [Human dignity is more precious than prestige…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/human-dignity-is-more-precious-than-prestige/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [Adventure-seasoned and storm-buffeted, I shun all signs of anchorage, because The zest of life exceeds the bound of laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/adventure-seasoned-and-storm-buffeted-i-shun-all-signs-of-anchorage/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [Nations, like plants and human beings, grow. And if the development is thwarted they are dwarfed and overshadowed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/nations-like-plants-and-human-beings-grow-and-if-the-development-is/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, If we must die, O let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/if-we-must-die-let-it-not-be-like-hogs-hunted-and-penned-in-an/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [We are like trees. We wear all colors naturally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/we-are-like-trees-we-wear-all-colors-naturally/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [I have forgotten much, but still remember The poinsiana's red, blood-red in warm December.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/i-have-forgotten-much-but-still-remember-the-poinsiana-s-red-blood/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [If a man is not faithful to his own individuality, he cannot be loyal to anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/if-a-man-is-not-faithful-to-his-own-individuality-he-cannot-be-loyal/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [Idealism is like a castle in the air if it is not based on a solid foundation of social and political realism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/idealism-is-like-a-castle-in-the-air-if-it-is-not-based-on-a-solid/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [It's when you are down that you learn about your faults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/it-s-when-you-are-down-that-you-learn-about-your-faults/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [I know the dark delight of being strange, The penalty of difference in the crowd, The loneliness of wisdom among fools...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/i-know-the-dark-delight-of-being-strange-the-penalty-of-difference-in/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) [Explore all 18 Claude McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) ## More Clothes quotes > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [The color of somebody's skin or the way he wears his hair or clothes has nothing to do with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-color-of-somebody-s-skin-or-the-way-he-wears-his-hair-or-clothes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [I design some of my own clothes now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-design-some-of-my-own-clothes-now/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Don't get too excited, but I'm naked under these clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/don-t-get-too-excited-but-i-m-naked-under-these-clothes/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“Take care of your costume and your confidence will take care of itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/take-care-of-your-costume-and-your-confidence-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I was a kid, my parents were happy to buy me clothes; they provided for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-wooster/when-i-was-a-kid-my-parents-were-happy-to-buy-me-clothes-they/) [Nick Wooster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-wooster/) > [It's very important to me that I look good when I go out publicly. I like looking at my clothes rack in the morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-i-look-good-when-i-go-out-publicly-i/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) [Browse all 4,888 Clothes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like ghosts suspended from the lines, Linking each flat, but to each indifferent, Incongruous and strange the moonlight shines.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Claude McKay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-that-hang-like-ghosts-suspended/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clothes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-that-hang-like-ghosts-suspended/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/claude-mckay-29093_clothes_upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-tha_639234.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/claude-mckay-29093_clothes_upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-tha_639234.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ba/claude-mckay-29093_clothes_upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-tha_639234.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like ghosts suspended from the lines, Linking each flat, but…” — Claude McKay", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Claude McKay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Upon the clothes behind the tenement,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-that-hang-like-ghosts-suspended/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/upon-the-clothes-behind-the-tenement-that-hang-like-ghosts-suspended/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```