Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

A. E. Housman (1859–1936). A Shropshire Lad. 1896.

IV. Wake: the silver dusk returning

Reveille

WAKE: the silver dusk returning

Up the beach of darkness brims,

And the ship of sunrise burning

Strands upon the eastern rims.

Wake: the vaulted shadow shatters,

Trampled to the floor it spanned,

And the tent of night in tatters

Straws the sky-pavilioned land.

Up, lad, up, ’tis late for lying:

Hear the drums of morning play;

Hark, the empty highways crying

‘Who ’ll beyond the hills away?’

Towns and countries woo together,

Forelands beacon, belfries call;

Never lad that trod on leather

Lived to feast his heart with all.

Up, lad: thews that lie and cumber

Sunlit pallets never thrive;

Morns abed and daylight slumber

Were not meant for man alive.

Clay lies still, but blood ’s a rover;

Breath ’s a ware that will not keep.

Up, lad: when the journey ’s over

There ’ll be time enough to sleep.