Friday Poetry: A.E. Housman

A.E. Housman
Is My Team Ploughing

'Is my team ploughing
That I was used to drive
And hear the harness jingle
When I was man alive?'

Aye, the horses trample,
The harness jingles now,
No change though you lie under
The land you used to plough.

'Is football playing
Along the river shore
With lads to chase the leather
Now I stand up no more?'

Aye, the ball is flying,
The lads play heart and soul,
The goal stands up, the keeper
Stands up to keep the goal.

'Is my girl happy
That I thought hard to leave
And has she tired of weeping
As she lies down at eve?'

Aye, she lies down lightly,
She lies down not to weep,
Your girl is well contented,
Be still, my lad and sleep.

'Is my friend hearty,
Now I am thin and pine,
And has he found to sleep in
A better bed than mine?'

Yes, lad, I lie easy,
I lie as lads would choose,
I cheer a dead man's sweetheart,
Never ask me whose.