101 Poems, Number 97

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

97: “When I Was One and Twenty,” in A Shropshire Lad, 1896, by A. E. Housman (1859–1936)

A high school teacher* made us learn

This Housman poem—by heart.

In desultory fashion I

Did mine, the student’s part—

Which wasn’t very much, I fear,

When I was young and dumb

And much of me above my neck

Was still a little … numb.

But later I would love this work—

And would not temporize.

I put the words in front of me,

Began to memorize.

I’ve memorized some others, too,

By Housman, who’s, for me,

Among my favorites in the world

Of quiet poetry.

Link to poem.

*Mrs. Madeleine Davis; Hiram High School, 1961-62 school year; English III-IV