Oh Shropshire Lad, look in my eyes, and
tell me one more time
The glory and the fortune one gains
dying in his prime--
To fling the heavy discus far
but never hear its fall
To only know life's largest thrills
and never feel the small--
Oh don't deny, my lightfoot lad
Death was your greatest fear
So did you prove, avoiding it for
For seventy-seven years!
-
Author:
jarcher54 (
Offline) - Published: August 20th, 2023 10:53
- Comment from author about the poem: Every poet should be at least lightly familiar with the lovely short poems of A E Housman, particularly the Shropshire Lad series in which the narrator ironically applauds the youthful athletic prowess of the lad and dismisses the idea of a long and dull life. https://mypoeticside.com/show-classic-poem-13496 The heroic lad that we know is headed to an early demise in the gory trenches of WWI. Housman himself lived a long and peaceful life. I wrote this in 1971, and but for a couple edits, have left it intact. I just stumbled on it and decided to share.
- Category: Reflection
- Views: 48
- Users favorite of this poem: aDarkerMind, Tristan Robert Lange, Cheeky Missy
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Comments17
Good write J.
I am so glad that you decided to share this one. It reads so well and hits me deep. The second stanza grabbed me and said it all. I thank you for putting it in context with your note. It truly reads as a classic.
"should" - hasn't - will.
Reflection? No, definitely a refutation.
Which doesn't alter my intention as above.
A smooth gem full of truth - Thanks.
I think Housman knew he was being ironic... trying to make the best of it maybe? Thanks DD!
Well done!
Thank you sir! I have been too busy to check in much lately, so thanks for the incentive to peek in!
I am delighted that you should honour said war poet .. I have long been a fan .. not only of him but of Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon and so very many others .. each one worthy of a read .. I am glad I passed by this way today my friend ... Neville
There is something extra compelling about those fellows... having such a black world all around you, and losing friends and limbs and... sigh
and what a share this is;
a true work of art.
Bene grazi'... the last line was a bit of black humor gone slightly askew... the middle stanza came out just right, but the ending could be reworked to be more.... serious?
Love it!
Thanks! Your appreciation is a nice thing.
I really like the piece, even more so after reading it’s history and appliqué .
I'm more well-read than I am productive... I'm actually quite intimidated by all the great poets and writers of history, and by the better posters on MPS. Thanks for the comment...
Dig!
Your phrasing is in great order and in the spirit of metonymy , displayed with excellent exact placement
I came across your poem only now and like it a lot!!
Please post some more,,
Awesome!
Really love this one. The flow is perfect. Reminds me of a mix of Dahl and Robert Service.
Perfect, to the point. Funny.
Yes, my scheme was to be somber and then hit with the punchline.
Great to hear from you old boy!
Brilliant work. The theme resonates.
So exquisite! I also would like nothing more than your insight about the classics on this site…
This was masterfully written and crafted. A wonderful write.
I am such a perfectionist it's hard to let something go!
Tremendous work.
I so appreciate your comment, as well as your poetry. I can tell you are a serious person who has things to say!
Enjoyed this write…
Happy to reimburse you for all the times you've engaged my little mind and imagination.
Thanx for the poetry lesson.
There are so many great minds in our human history no one can know them all. Housman was one of my childhood favorites. His poems are comprehensible, lovely, smooth, and deceptively simple. Thanks for humoring me my friend.
Thanks for sharing this poem and its backstory! Your grasp of Housman's work really shines through. I love how your poem flips his themes on their head, especially pointing out the irony of his long life vs. his poetic obsession with dying young. It's awesome that you wrote this back in 1971 and, minus a few minor tweaks, it remains intact. I am glad you decided to share it. Your take on Housman adds a fresh perspective to his work - nicely done!
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