When I Was One-and-Twenty

BY A. E. HOUSMAN

When I was one-and-twenty

       I heard a wise man say,

“Give crowns 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 again,

“The heart out of the bosom

       Was never given in vain;

’Tis paid with sighs a plenty

       And sold for endless rue.”

And I am two-and-twenty,

       And oh, ’tis true, ’tis true.

Reply:

 When you were one-and-twenty 

            

      BY A. E. HOUSMAM

        When you were one-and-twenty

  You've heard me say,

            Things and worldy words

              As cold , as blod as clay. 

         Rubies sharper than swords, 

               Sword as slim as skew. 

               But you were one-and-twenty

                     No use talk to you

                  When you were one-and-twenty

                      I told you once again

                           Some words of encouragement 

                    As light as rain

                          As you were empty

                       Like a body without a soul 

                               And now you're two-and-twenty

                         I made you whole.