A review by painauchocolat
A Shropshire Lad by A. E. Housman

My favorite poem in middle school, or rather the first English language poem that left an imprint on me, was Housman's "I to my perils." It is not in this collection, but I copied it below. "A Shropshire Lad" is rather unremarkable but "I to my perils" continues to give to me in a way that I can't explain, especially during difficult times.

I to my perils
Of cheat and charmer
Came clad in armour
By stars benign.
Hope lies to mortals
And most believe her
But man's deceiver
Was never mine.

The thoughts of others
Were light and fleeting,
Of lovers' meeting
Or luck or fame.
Mine were of trouble,
And mine were steady,
So I was ready
When trouble came.