When I was One and Twenty

A.E Housman (1859-1936)

When I was one and twenty

I heard a wise man say

Give crown and pounds and guineas

But not your heart away

Give pearls away and rubies

But keep your fancy free

But I was one and twenty

No use to talk to me

When I was one and twenty

I heard him say a gain

The heart out of the bosom

Was never given a vain

This paid with sight a plenty

And sold endless rue

And I'm two and twenty

And oh,

Tis true

Tis true