E. Housman
E. Housman
poetry rats terriers
I could no more define poetry than a terrier can define a rat.
ceases line poetry
If a line of poetry strays into my memory, my skin bristles so that the razor ceases to act.
religious appreciated poetry-is
Good religious poetry... is likely to be most justly appreciated and most discriminately relished by the undevout.
art thinking poetry
Poems very seldom consist of poetry and nothing else; and pleasure can be derived also from their other ingredients. I am convinced that most readers, when they think they are admiring poetry, are deceived by inability to analyse their sensations, and that they are really admiring, not the poetry of the passage before them, but something else in it, which they like better than poetry.
way said poetry-is
Poetry is not the thing said, but the way of saying it.
perfect poetry understanding
Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out . . .. Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure.
golden heart maiden
With rue my heart is laden / For golden friends I had, / For many a rose-lipt maiden / And many a lightfoot lad.
lay notion range time within
At that time I had no notion that I should ever come to live in Somerset - to live actually within the range of what then lay before me.
heart men blue
His folly has not fellow Beneath the blue of day That gives to man or woman His heart and soul away.
fits hands men sober
But men at whiles are sober / And think by fits and starts, / And if they think, they fasten / Their hands upon their hearts.
fine next oh shall year
May will be fine next year as like as not: / Oh ay, but then we shall be twenty-four.
clean love
Oh, when I was in love with you, / Then I was clean and brave.
land lie though
No change, though you lie under / The land you used to plough.
earth sea turning wears
Made of earth and sea / His overcoat for ever, / And wears the turning globe.