Once in the wind of morning
	I ranged the thymy wold;
The world-wide air was azure
	And all the brooks ran gold.

There through the dews beside me
	Behold a youth that trod,
With feathered cap on forehead,
	And poised a golden rod.

With mien to match the morning
	And gay delightful guise
And friendly brows and laughter
	He looked me in the eyes.

Oh whence, I asked, and whither?
	He smiled and would not say,
And looked at me and beckoned
	And laughed and led the way.

And with kind looks and laughter
	And nought to say beside
We two went on together,
	I and my happy guide.

Across the glittering pastures
	And empty upland still
And solitude of shepherds
	High in the folded hill,

By hanging woods and hamlets
	That gaze through orchards down
On many a windmill turning
	And far-discovered town,

With gay regards of promise
	And sure unslackened stride
And smiles and nothing spoken
	Led on my merry guide.

By blowing realms of woodland
	With sunstruck vanes afield
And cloud-led shadows sailing
	About the windy weald,

By valley-guarded granges
	And silver waters wide,
Content at heart I followed
	With my delightful guide.

And like the cloudy shadows
	Across the country blown
We two fare on for ever,
	But not we two alone.

With the great gale we journey
	That breathes from gardens thinned,
Borne in the drift of blossoms
	Whose petals throng the wind;

Buoyed on the heaven-heard whisper
	Of dancing leaflets whirled
>From all the woods that autumn
	Bereaves in all the world.

And midst the fluttering legion
	Of all that ever died
I follow, and before us
	Goes the delightful guide,

With lips that brim with laughter
	But never once respond,
And feet that fly on feathers,
	And serpent-circled wand.

Added: May 7 2003 | Viewed: 904 times | Comments (0)

Poet: A.E. Housman
Poem: The Merry Guide

Poem of the Day on:
Dec 1 2005
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