Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO AN OLD TUNE by WILLIAM ALEXANDER PERCY

First Line: YOU CANNOT CHOOSE BUT LOVE, LAD
Last Line: OR STAB YOU -- SMILE, LAD, SMILE.
Subject(s): DEATH; HEARTS; LIFE; LOVE; DEAD, THE;
You cannot choose but love, lad,
From dawn till twilight dreary;
You cannot choose but love, lad,
Though love grows weary, weary.

For, lad, an if you love not,
You'd best have slept, unwaking;
But, O, an if you love, lad,
Your heart is breaking, breaking.

Though friends and lovers only
Fill life with joyous breath,
Yet friend or lover only
Can make you pray for death.

Throw open wide your heart then,
Love's road-house for a mile!
And if one turns to leave you
Or stab you -- smile, lad, smile.



Home: PoetryExplorer.net