A Wanderer Poem by Siegfried Sassoon

A Wanderer

Rating: 3.2


When Watkin shifts the burden of his cares
And all that irked him in his bound employ,
Once more become a vagrom-hearted boy,
He moves to roundelays and jocund airs;
Loitering with dusty harvestmen, he shares
Old ale and sunshine; or, with maids half-coy,
Pays court to shadows; fools himself with joy,
Shaking a leg at junketings and fairs.

Sometimes, returning down his breezy miles,
A snatch of wayward April he will bring,
Piping the daffodilly that beguiles
Foolhardy lovers in the surge of spring.
And then once more by lanes and field-path stiles
Up the green world he wanders like a king.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Glen Kappy 13 February 2018

Though I respect Sassoon for what he wrote on the waste and folly of war, I wonder, reading this for the first time, if his just anger and outrage made him unable to see and appreciate beauty in the world. Do we fool ourselves with joy? Are lovers foolhardy? -GK

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Subhas Chandra Chakra 13 February 2018

Sometimes, returning down his breezy miles, A of wayward April he will bring, Piping the daffodilly that beguiles Foolhardy lovers in the surge of spring. Wow, simply a piece of marvel in the poetic world.

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Edward Kofi Louis 13 February 2018

He wanders like a king! ! Thanks for sharing this poem with us.

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Ndaiga Ngatia 13 February 2018

When Watkin shifts the burden of his cares... Up the green world he wanders like a king. That`s something... Thanks for the good sharing

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Douglas Scotney 13 February 2018

A teacher of mine called Watkins did not gladly suffer fools; clipped them about the ears, grabbed them by a lobe tossed 'em into pools.

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David Wood 29 November 2021

April brings both sunshine and rain and all sorts of foolishness. If after that terrible war was perhaps justified?

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Rose Marie Juan-austin 29 November 2021

A marvelous poem well crafted and brilliantly executed.

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Quoth Theraven 04 December 2020

Tractless and tasteful wonder. What surge brought through. -QtR

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Paul Amrod 04 December 2020

Despite being like many being brainwashed into WW I he was a brilliant craftsman with an incredible fluent vocabulary.

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Dr Antony Theodore 04 December 2020

Foolhardy lovers in the surge of spring. And then once more by lanes and field-path stiles Up the green world he wanders like a king. there you are. he wanders like a king. our pose, our attitudes. fine poem. tony

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