“and she ran to him (then they started to fly) / they looked backward and said goodbye”

[larryhammer]

For Poetry Monday, back to Housman:


Now hollow fires burn out to black,
    And lights are guttering low:
Square your shoulders, lift your pack,
    And leave your friends and go.

Oh never fear, man, nought’s to dread,
    Look not to left nor right:
In all the endless road you tread
    There’s nothing but the night.


Hat tip to sovay for the reminder of this one.

---L.

Subject quote from (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, Blue Öyster Cult.

Comments

[cmcmck]

Just wonderful!

[larryhammer]

I thought so.

[sovay]

Yay.

(Well-chosen subject header.)

[larryhammer]

(It seemed like a good response.)

[puddleshark]

Love this. Thank you.

I've never actually read any Housman. I should remedy that.

[larryhammer]

Yes, you should. He's very much of his time and very focused in range, but within his self-set limits he's often stunning. He's not a big lift, either -- three slender collections all told.

[cmcmck]

Plus his wonderful nonsense verse of course!

[larryhammer]

True, true.

[oracne]

I like Housman.

[larryhammer]

So do I. There are times when he scratches the itch in just the right place. He rarely scratches anywhere else, but sometimes that's the place you want scratched.