The Carpenter's Son Poem by Alfred Edward Housman
The Carpenter's Son
"Here the hangman stops his cart:
Now the best of friends must part.
Fare you well, for ill fare I:
Live, lads, and I will die.
"Oh, at home had I but stayed
'Prenticed to my father's trade,
Had I stuck to plane and adze,
I had not been lost, my lads.
"Then I might have built perhaps
Gallows-trees for other chaps,
Never dangled on my own,
Had I left but ill alone.
"Now, you see, they hang me high,
And the people passing by
Stop to shake their fists and curse;
So 'tis come from ill to worse.
"Here hang I, and right and left
Two poor fellows hang for theft:
All the same's the luck we prove,
Though the midmost hangs for love.
"Comrades all, that stand and gaze,
Walk henceforth in other ways;
See my neck and save your own:
Comrades all, leave ill alone.
"Make some day a decent end,
Shrewder fellows than your friend.
Fare you well, for ill fare I:
Live lads, and I will die."
'Here hang I, and right and left Two poor fellows hang for theft: All the same's the luck we prove, Though the midmost hangs for love.' M so in love with this poem, thank you!
'Here hang I, and right and left Two poor fellows hang for theft: All the same's the luck we prove, Though the midmost hangs for love.' M so in love with this poem, thank you!
This seems to be a secular version of the Crucifixion. It is not saying pick up your Cross and follow me, but keep your noses clean and you will not end up on a cross!
... at home had I but stayed Much to stop here for further move. The tune is yet for our own perhaps...
Fare you well, for ill fare I: In anguish we try to forget the things we love when they live not finding a suitable way to say goodbye. Nice poem.
Beautiful allusion of the crucifixion of Christ through a secular everyday shroud.
nice poem but i suggest member poems should be used as poem of the day and not dead poets.thanks
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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6/10/2023 6:17:29 AM # 1.0.0.1113
Biblical allusion at its best. A wonderful way of relating the experience of Jsus Christ on the Cross.