A.E. Housman
[There pass the careless people] (1886)
(from A Shropshire Lad, XIV)
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There pass the careless people |
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That call their souls their own: |
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Here by the road I loiter, |
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How idle and alone. |
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Ah, past the plunge of plummet, |
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In seas I cannot sound, |
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My heart and soul and senses, |
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World without end, are drowned. |
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His folly has not fellow |
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Beneath the blue of day |
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That gives to man or woman |
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His heart and soul away. |
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There flowers no balm to sain him |
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From east of earth to west |
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That’s lost for everlasting |
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The heart out of his breast. |
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Here by the labouring highway |
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With empty hands I stroll: |
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Sea-deep, till doomsday morning, |
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Lie lost my heart and soul. |