When Watkin shifts the burden of his cares
And all that irked him in his bound employ,
Once more become a vagrom-hearted boy,
He moves to roundelays and jocund airs;
Loitering with dusty harvestmen, he shares
Old ale and sunshine; or, with maids half-coy,
Pays court to shadows; fools himself with joy,
Shaking a leg at junketings and fairs.
Sometimes, returning down his breezy miles,
A snatch of wayward April he will bring,
Piping the daffodilly that beguiles
Foolhardy lovers in the surge of spring.
And then once more by lanes and field-path stiles
Up the green world he wanders like a king.
Sometimes, returning down his breezy miles, A of wayward April he will bring, Piping the daffodilly that beguiles Foolhardy lovers in the surge of spring. Wow, simply a piece of marvel in the poetic world.
He wanders like a king! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.
When Watkin shifts the burden of his cares... Up the green world he wanders like a king. That`s something... Thanks for the good sharing
A teacher of mine called Watkins did not gladly suffer fools; clipped them about the ears, grabbed them by a lobe tossed 'em into pools.
April brings both sunshine and rain and all sorts of foolishness. If after that terrible war was perhaps justified?
A marvelous poem well crafted and brilliantly executed.
Tractless and tasteful wonder. What surge brought through. -QtR
Despite being like many being brainwashed into WW I he was a brilliant craftsman with an incredible fluent vocabulary.
Foolhardy lovers in the surge of spring. And then once more by lanes and field-path stiles Up the green world he wanders like a king. there you are. he wanders like a king. our pose, our attitudes. fine poem. tony
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Though I respect Sassoon for what he wrote on the waste and folly of war, I wonder, reading this for the first time, if his just anger and outrage made him unable to see and appreciate beauty in the world. Do we fool ourselves with joy? Are lovers foolhardy? -GK