Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

A. E. Housman (1859–1936). A Shropshire Lad. 1896.

VII. When smoke stood up from Ludlow

WHEN smoke stood up from Ludlow,

And mist blew off from Teme,

And blithe afield to ploughing

Against the morning beam

I strode beside my team,

The blackbird in the coppice

Looked out to see me stride,

And hearkened as I whistled

The trampling team beside,

And fluted and replied:

‘Lie down, lie down, young yeoman;

What use to rise and rise?

Rise man a thousand mornings

Yet down at last he lies,

And then the man is wise.’

I heard the tune he sang me,

And spied his yellow bill;

I picked a stone and aimed it

And threw it with a will:

Then the bird was still.

Then my soul within me

Took up the blackbird’s strain,

And still beside the horses

Along the dewy lane

It sang the song again:

‘Lie down, lie down, young yeoman;

The sun moves always west;

The road one treads to labour

Will lead one home to rest,

And that will be the best.’