Selected poems of A.E. Housman

• On your midnight pallet lying, / When it was not clay.
• Now to her lap the incestuous earth / But not my friend again.
• You smile upon your friend to-day, / Before I die for ever.
• Her strong enchantments failing, / But you will die to-day.
• Stone, steel, dominions pass, / Untrue for ever.
• Now hollow fires burn out to black, / There's nothing but the night.
• When I came last to Ludlow / Amidst the moonlight pale.
• Stars, I have seen them fall, / And still the sea is salt.
• When the bells jingle in the tower / Of all I ever did.
• The stars have not dealt me the worst they could do: / With flint in the bosom and guts in the head.
• Shake hands, we shall never be friends, all's over; / And whistle and I'll be there.
• Oh turn not in from marching / And death will serve instead.
• Oh on my breast in days hereafter / So heavy hangs the sky.
• As I gird on for fighting / My sword that will not save.
• Ho, everyone that thirsteth / Shall fill his mouth with mold.
• Now dreary dawns the eastern light, / Has had no luck at all.
• Stay, if you list, O passer by the way; / Whole of an ancient evil, I sleep sound.
• The world goes none the lamer, / To lay me down and die.
• If in that Syrian garden, ages slain, / Sleep well and see no morning, son of man.
• The fairies break their dances / And wonders what's to pay.
• When he's returned I'll tell him -- oh, / The news must keep for aye.
• From far, from eve and morning / I take my endless way.
• My dreams are of a field afar / Remembered and remain.
• To stand up straight and tread the turning mill, / I know not, but I know that both are ill.
• Yonder see the morning blink; / And all's to do again.
• I promise nothing: friends will part; / Its sure foundation of despair.
• I did not lose my heart in summer's even, / And laughed and kissed his hand to me and died.
• He looked at me with eyes I thought / And touch your cap to him.
• If it chance your eye offend you, / When your sickness is your soul.