Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 7, by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: When smoke stood up from ludlow Last Line: And that will be the best.' Alternate Author Name(s): Housman, A. E. Variant Title(s): The Blackbird Subject(s): Birds | ||||||||
When smoke stood up from Ludlow, And mist blew off from Teme, And blithe afield to ploughing Against the morning beam I strode beside my team, The blackbird in the coppice Looked out to see me stride, And hearkened as I whistled The trampling team beside, And fluted and replied: Lie down, lie down, young yeoman; What use to rise and rise? Rise man a thousand mornings Yet down at last he lies, And then the man is wise.' I heard the tune he sang me, And spied his yellow bill; I picked a stone and aimed it And threw it with a will: Then the bird was. still. Then my soul within me Took up the blackbird's strain, And still beside the horses Along the dewy lane It sang the song again: Lie down, lie down, young yeoman; The sun moves always west; The road one treads to labour Will lead one home to rest, And that will be the best.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GLIMPSES OF THE BIRDS by JOHN HOLLANDER GLIMPSES OF THE BIRDS by JOHN HOLLANDER AUDUBON EXAMINES A BITTERN by ANDREW HUDGINS DISPATCHES FROM DEVEREUX SLOUGH by MARK JARMAN A COUNTRY LIFE by RANDALL JARRELL CANADIAN WARBLER by GALWAY KINNELL YELLOW BIRD by KENNETH SLADE ALLING THE CRIPPLE by KARLE WILSON BAKER A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 1. 1887 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN |
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