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This poem is about the rejection Housman recieved from the true love of his life, Moses Johnson. This, like many of his poems, deals with the topic of homosexuality and his love for Johnson in particular. By all accounts, when Housman revealed his love for his handsome, athletic (and heterosexual) friend, he was cruelly rebuffed. Quite a few of his poems deal with this one incident. It emotionally scarred Housman and influenced the rest of the poetry he wrote throughout his life. His cycnicism/pessimism concerning love that seems to many like heartlessness and a lack of any romantic feeling can be attributed to this. Johnson basically said "get out of my life" and Housman reluctantly aquiesced. In case you didn't get it, the "new mistress" is the British army; not an actual woman. If for any reason you ever want the Housman poems dealing with Johnson and homosexuality (for like a term paper or background anything) it gives quite an interesting perspective and clears up reading Housman incredibly. I have stockpiled the poems and can provide them along with a pretty thorough explanation if you're interested. Just e-mail me.
Natalia from United States