The Carpenter's Son Poem by Alfred Edward Housman

The Carpenter's Son

Rating: 3.3


"Here the hangman stops his cart:
Now the best of friends must part.
Fare you well, for ill fare I:
Live, lads, and I will die.

"Oh, at home had I but stayed
'Prenticed to my father's trade,
Had I stuck to plane and adze,
I had not been lost, my lads.

"Then I might have built perhaps
Gallows-trees for other chaps,
Never dangled on my own,
Had I left but ill alone.

"Now, you see, they hang me high,
And the people passing by
Stop to shake their fists and curse;
So 'tis come from ill to worse.

"Here hang I, and right and left
Two poor fellows hang for theft:
All the same's the luck we prove,
Though the midmost hangs for love.

"Comrades all, that stand and gaze,
Walk henceforth in other ways;
See my neck and save your own:
Comrades all, leave ill alone.

"Make some day a decent end,
Shrewder fellows than your friend.
Fare you well, for ill fare I:
Live lads, and I will die."

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Babatunde Aremu 26 September 2013

Biblical allusion at its best. A wonderful way of relating the experience of Jsus Christ on the Cross.

5 4 Reply
Mishack Mchunu 26 September 2011

'Here hang I, and right and left Two poor fellows hang for theft: All the same's the luck we prove, Though the midmost hangs for love.' M so in love with this poem, thank you!

8 0 Reply
Pranab K Chakraborty 26 September 2011

... at home had I but stayed Much to stop here for further move. The tune is yet for our own perhaps...

6 1 Reply
Kevin Straw 26 September 2012

This seems to be a secular version of the Crucifixion. It is not saying pick up your Cross and follow me, but keep your noses clean and you will not end up on a cross!

5 2 Reply
Mishack Mchunu 26 September 2011

'Here hang I, and right and left Two poor fellows hang for theft: All the same's the luck we prove, Though the midmost hangs for love.' M so in love with this poem, thank you!

6 1 Reply
George Samuel 26 September 2014

Fare you well, for ill fare I: In anguish we try to forget the things we love when they live not finding a suitable way to say goodbye. Nice poem.

3 0 Reply
Sagnik Chakraborty 26 September 2014

Beautiful allusion of the crucifixion of Christ through a secular everyday shroud.

5 0 Reply

A wonderful poem in its nice creativity.

3 1 Reply
Carolina Jamies 26 September 2013

nice poem but i suggest member poems should be used as poem of the day and not dead poets.thanks

2 12 Reply
Liliana ~el 26 September 2013

Revolutionary martyr.

3 2 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Close
Error Success