A. E. Housman Quotes about Heart

I sought them far and found them, The sure, the straight, the brave, The hearts I lost my own to, The souls I could not save They braced their belts about them, They crossed in ships the sea, They sought and found six

I sought them far and found them, The sure, the straight, the brave, The hearts I lost my own to, The souls I could not save They braced their belts about them, They crossed in ships the sea, They sought and found six feet of ground, And there they died for me.

A. E. Housman

Heart, Sea, Feet

A. E. Housman (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of A. E. Housman (Illustrated)”, p.134, Delphi Classics

Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies, But keep your fancy free.

A. E. Housman

Heart, Giving, Rubies

Shropshire Lad (1896) no. 13

With rue my heart is laden For golden friends I had, For many a rose-lipped maiden And many a lightfoot lad.

A. E. Housman

Heart, Rose, Rue

Shropshire Lad (1896) no. 54

Because I liked you better Than suits a man to say, It irked you, and I promised I'd throw the thought away. To put the world between us We parted stiff and dry: 'Farewell,' said you, 'forget me.' 'Fare well, I will,' said I. If e'er, where clover whitens The dead man's knoll, you pass, And no tall flower to meet you Starts in the trefoiled grass, Halt by the headstone shading The heart you have not stirred, And say the lad that loved you Was one that kept his word.

A. E. Housman

Flower, Farewell, Heart

A. E. Housman (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of A. E. Housman (Illustrated)”, Delphi Classics

When I was one-and-twenty I heard a wise man say, `Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies But keep your fancy free.' But I was one-and-twenty No use to talk to me. When I was one-and-twenty I heard him say again, `The heart out of the bosom Was never given in vain; 'Tis paid with sighs a plenty And sold for endless rue.' And I am two-and-twenty And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.

A. E. Housman

Wise, Heart, Men

Shropshire Lad (1896) no. 13

He would not stay for me, and who can wonder? He would not stay for me to stand and gaze. I shook his hand, and tore my heart in sunder, And went with half my life about my ways.

A. E. Housman

Heart, Hands, Way

A. E. Housman (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of A. E. Housman (Illustrated)”, p.56, Delphi Classics

But men at whiles are sober And think by fits and starts. And if they think, they fasten Their hands upon their hearts

A. E. Housman

Heart, Men, Thinking

'Last Poems' (1922) no. 10

Could man be drunk for ever With liquor, love, or fights, Lief should I rouse at morning And lief lie down of nights. But men at whiles are sober And think by fits and starts, And if they think, they fasten Their hands upon their hearts.

A. E. Housman

Morning, Lying, Heart

Last Poems (1922) no. 10