Final Answer:
The tone created through the phrase "I'm living in the tombs" in line 40 of 'My childhood home I see again' is one of melancholy or a sense of desolation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase "I'm living in the tombs" evokes a somber and desolate tone within the poem. It conveys a sense of isolation, sadness, and a feeling of being surrounded by death or a life devoid of vitality. The comparison to living in tombs suggests a profound emotional emptiness or a sense of being trapped within a space associated with the deceased, intensifying the melancholic atmosphere of the verse.
The use of this phrase communicates a feeling of being detached from the vibrant aspects of life and highlights a pervasive sense of loss. It suggests a state of emotional desolation or disconnection from the joys of the past, emphasizing a profound sadness or loneliness that pervades the speaker's current existence. This phrase contributes significantly to shaping the overall tone of the poem, amplifying the feelings of nostalgia and melancholy that permeate the speaker's reflections on the past and present.
Therefore, the phrase "I'm living in the tombs" contributes significantly to the tone of melancholy or desolation, encapsulating the speaker's feelings of isolation and emotional detachment from the liveliness of past experiences, accentuating the pervasive sense of loss and nostalgia within the poem.