E. Housman
E. Housman
lonely hero men
Housman is one of my heroes and always has been. He was a detestable and miserable man. Arrogant, unspeakably lonely, cruel, and so on, but and absolutely marvellous minor poet, I think, and a great scholar.
ignorance long three
Three minutes thought would suffice to find this out; but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time.
integrity hypocrisy house
The house of delusions is cheap to build but drafty to live in.
use humans
All knowledge is precious whether or not it serves the slightest human use.
land shining nostalgia
That is the land of lost content, I see it shining plain, the happy highways where I went and cannot come again.
lying sleep night
Lovers lying two and two Ask not whom they sleep beside, And the bridegroom all night through Never turns him to the bride.
people dumb church
The bells they sound on Bredon, And still the steeples hum. "Come all to church, good people"- Oh, noisy bells, be dumb; I hear you, I will come.
air earth tomorrow
Tomorrow, more's the pity, Away we both must hie, To air the ditty and to earth I.
change men wind
There, like the wind through woods in riot, Through him the gale of life blew high; The tree of man was never quiet: Then 'twas the Roman, now 'tis I.
hair fists prison
Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrist? And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists? And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air? Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.
strong heaven earth
Earth and high heaven are fixed of old and founded strong.
good-night sea land
Good night; ensured release, Imperishable peace, Have these for yours. * While sky and sea and land And earth's foundations stand And heaven endures. *These three lines are on the tablet over Housman's grave in the parish church at Ludlow, Shropshire, England
heart men thinking
But men at whiles are sober And think by fits and starts. And if they think, they fasten Their hands upon their hearts
lying orion midnight
The rainy Pleiads wester Orion plunges prone, And midnight strikes and hastens, And I lie down alone.