XLVI
Bring, in this timeless grave to throw
No cypress, sombre on the snow;
Snap not from the bitter yew
His leaves that live December through;
Break no rosemary, bright with rime
And sparkling to the cruel crime;
Nor plod the winter land to look
For willows in the icy brook
To cast them leafless round him: bring
To spray that ever buds in spring.
But if the Christmas field has kept
Awns the last gleaner overstept,
Or shrivelled flax, whose flower is blue
A single season, never two;
Or if one haulm whose year is o’er
Shivers on the upland frore,
–Oh, bring from hill and stream and plain
Whatever will not flower again,
To give him comfort: he and those
Shall bide eternal bedfellows
Where low upon the couch he lies
Whence he never shall arise.
(A. E. Housman)
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Based on Topics: Christianity Poems, Flowers Poems, Spring Poems, Snow Poems, Winter Poems, Crime Poems, Christmas PoemsBased on Keywords: upland, willows, yew, sombre, leafless, cypress, rime, shivers, shrivelled, xlvi, plod