| A. E. Housman (1859–1936). A Shropshire Lad. 1896. |
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| XXV. This time of year a twelvemonth past |
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| THIS time of year a twelvemonth past, | |
| When Fred and I would meet, | |
| We needs must jangle, till at last | |
| We fought and I was beat. | |
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| So then the summer fields about, | 5 |
| Till rainy days began, | |
| Rose Harland on her Sundays out | |
| Walked with the better man. | |
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| The better man she walks with still, | |
| Though now ’tis not with Fred: | 10 |
| A lad that lives and has his will | |
| Is worth a dozen dead. | |
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| Fred keeps the house all kinds of weather, | |
| And clay’s the house he keeps; | |
| When Rose and I walk out together | 15 |
| Stock-still lies Fred and sleeps. | |
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