Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 31, by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN


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A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 31, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: On wenlock edge the wood's in trouble
Last Line: Are ashes under uricon.
Alternate Author Name(s): Housman, A. E.
Variant Title(s): On Wenlock Edge;wenlock Edge
Subject(s): England; Shropshire, England; Time; Wind; English


On Wenlock Edge the wood's in trouble;
His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;
The gale, it plies the saplings double,
And thick on Severn snow the leaves.

'Twould blow like this through holt and hanger
When Uricon the city stood:
'Tis the old wind in the old anger,
But then it threshed another wood.

Then, 'twas before my time, the Roman
At yonder heaving hill would stare:
The blood that warms an English yeoman,
The thoughts that hurt him, they were there.

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.

The gale, it plies the saplings double,
It blows so hard, 'twill soon be gone:
To-day the Roman and his trouble
Are ashes under Uricon.






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