And skies at evening cloud,
I muse on change and fortune
And all the feats I vowed
When I was young and proud.
The weathercock at sunset
Would lose the slanted ray,
And I would climb the beacon
That looked to Wales away
And saw the last of day.
From hill and cloud and heaven
The hues of evening died;
Night welled through lane and hollow
And hushed the countryside,
But I had youth and pride.
And I with earth and nightfall
In converse high would stand,
Late, till the west was ashen
And darkness hard at hand,
And the eye lost the land.
The year might age, and cloudy
The lessening day might close,
But air of other summers
Breathed from beyond the snows,
And I had hope of those.
They came and were and are not
And come no more anew;
And all the years and seasons
That ever can ensue
Must now be worse and few.
So here's an end of roaming
On eves when autumn nighs:
The ear too fondly listens
For summer's parting sighs,
And then the heart replies.
AE Housman (1859-1936)
Poem untitled - XXXIX
Poem untitled - XXXIX
from Last Poems, 1922
Nan, I've never been much of a poetry fan, and a friend who is a Princeton professor is always telling me how much I miss. Well, thanks to you, I'm actually enjoying the poetry you post and thinking maybe I'll try reading some more.
ReplyDeleteThank you. That means so, so much to me. Really.
DeleteHey Nan,
ReplyDeleteDon't appreciate much poetry really but enjoyed this. A man's poem.
Wow! I'm delighted that you liked it, and left a note. Man's and woman's, methinks.
DeleteThis is the time of year for contemplation. Wonderful poem.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. Without me even really noticing, I'm finding that in myself. This one is definitely contemplative.
DeleteLovely poem - AE Housman one of my favourite poets, but this one I don't remember! Thankyou.
ReplyDeleteAnd what beautiful apples!
You are so welcome. I found it very moving.
DeleteI haven't read any AE Housman in a long time. Thanks for reminding me what a very wonderful poet he was. Sometimes in life, we just don't make time to read poetry and we should, so thank you for providing us those moment of enjoyment each time you post a new poet and poem.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice thing to say. I do find that reading a poem slows me down, and makes me really think/feel in a way nothing else does.
DeleteAs he was 63 when he wrote this, he already had a glimmer of ageing. The autumn of his years is evident. Beautiful insight.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm a year older, so I totally get it. :<) Though not as sad as he is, I think.
DeleteThe addition of a fifth line to every stanza gives each one a heavier finality (it's a brilliant technique - better I think than if he'd used quatrains). Thanks for showing us this poem. I'm not familiar with Housman's work, only "Loveliest of Trees, the Cherry Now."
ReplyDeleteIt is brilliant, you are so right. It's fun to look at just those lines too. We see the young and proud - youth and pride. Saw the last - the eye lost. Do these things come without the poets' knowledge, do you think? I kind of hope so.
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