Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


A SHROPSHIRE LAD: 49 by ALFRED EDWARD HOUSMAN

Poet Analysis

First Line: THINK NO MORE, LAD; LAUGH, BE JOLLY
Last Line: LAYS LADS UNDERGROUND.

Think no more, lad; laugh, be jolly:
Why should men make haste to die?
Empty heads and tongues a-talking
Make the rough road easy walking,
And the feather pate of folly
Bears the falling sky.

Oh, 'tis jesting, dancing, drinking
Spins the heavy world around.
If young hearts were not so clever,
Oh, they would be young for ever:
Think no more; 'tis only thinking
Lays lads underground.





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