A. E. Housman

Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out... Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure.

Experience has taught me, when I am shaving of a morning, to keep watch over my thoughts, because, if a line of poetry strays into my memory, my skin bristles so that the razor ceases to act.

Nature not content with denying him the ability to think has endowed him with the ability to write.

Three minutes' thought would suffice to find this out . but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time.

I a stranger and afraid in a world I never made.

Clay lies still but blood's a rover Breath's a ware that will not keep. Up lad: when the journey's over There'll be time enough to sleep.

And how am I to face the odds of man's bedevilment and God's? I a stranger and afraid in a world I never made.

Clay lies still but blood's a rover Breath's a ware that will not keep Up lad when the journey's over There'll be time enough to sleep.

The loveliest of trees the cherry now is hung with bloom along the bough and stands about the woodland ride wearing white for Eastertide.

The mortal sickness of a mind too unhappy to be kind.

I a stranger and afraid In a world I never made.

Malt does more than Milton can To justify God's ways to man.