A.E. Housman (1859–1936)

Star and coronal and bell

        April underfoot renews,

And the hope of man as well

        Flowers among the morning dews.

Now the old come out to look,

        Winter past and winter’s pains,

How the sky in pool and brook

        Glitters on the grassy plains.

Easily the gentle air

        Wafts the turning season on;

Things to comfort them are there,

        Though ’tis true the best are gone.

Now the scorned unlucky lad

        Rousing from his pillow gnawn

Mans his heart and deep and glad

        Drinks the valiant air of dawn.

Half the night he longed to die,

        Now are sown on hill and plain

Pleasures worth his while to try

        Ere he longs to die again.

Blue the sky from east to west

        Arches, and the world is wide,

Though the girl he loves the best

        Rouses from another’s side.