Friday, October 12, 2012

When I was one-and-twenty


When I was one-and-twenty
A. E. Housman


WHEN I was one-and-twenty
I heard a wise man say,
‘Give crowns and pounds and guineas
But not your heart away;

Give pearls away and rubies
But keep your fancy free.’
But I was one-and-twenty,
No use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty
I heard him say again,
‘The heart out of the bosom
Was never given in vain;
’Tis paid with sighs a plenty
And sold for endless rue.’
And I am two-and-twenty,
And oh, ’tis true, ’tis true.

1 comment:

David Milliken said...

And what of ten and sixty?
Oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.
And I am not very wise.

You're in a vein, Nin, 'tis true.

David Milliken