Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FIRST OF MAY, by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: The orchards half the way Last Line: And ludlow fair again. Alternate Author Name(s): Housman, A. E. Subject(s): Aging; May (month) | ||||||||
THE orchards half the way From home to Ludlow fair Flowered on the first of May In Mays when I was there; And seen from stile or turning The plume of smoke would show Where fires were burning That went out long ago. The plum broke forth in green, The pear stood high and snowed, My friends and I between Would take the Ludlow road; Dressed to the nines and drinking And light in heart and limb, And each chap thinking The fair was held for him. Between the trees in flower New friends at fairtime tread The way where Ludlow tower Stands planted on the dead. Our thoughts, a long while after, They think, our words they say; Theirs now's the laughter, The fair, the first of May. Ay, yonder lads are yet The fools that we were then; For oh, the sons we get Are still the sons of men. The sumless tale of sorrow Is all unrolled in vain: May comes to-morrow And Ludlow fair again. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...IN THE MONTH OF MAY by ROBERT BLY VENICE: MAY DAY by KENNETH REXROTH EARLY MAY STANZAS by TOMAS TRANSTROMER HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD by ROBERT BROWNING IN MAY by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 1. 1887 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN |
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