022314: AE Housman

I'm currently working on a project for my poetry class and I've chosen the poem "Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists?" by AE Housman. I'm actually not too sure about the title of the poem, because I've gotten different sources saying different things (they'd either say its title is what I just type or it is "The Colour of His Hair"). Ah, well. In my essay, I will be referring to it as "The Colour of His Hair" because it is shorter (and sounds better to me), though I know the likelihood of that actually being its original title is very small (these nineteenth century poets seem to never title their poems @_@).

I thought I'd share the poem with you guys, because I honestly love it a lot :)
"Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists?
And what has he been after, that they groan and shake their fists?
And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air?
Oh they’re taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.

‘Tis a shame to human nature, such a head of hair as his;
In the good old time ’twas hanging for the colour that it is;
Though hanging isn’t bad enough and flaying would be fair
For the nameless and abominable colour of his hair.

Oh a deal of pains he’s taken and a pretty price he’s paid
To hide his poll or dye it of a mentionable shade;
But they’ve pulled the beggar’s hat off for the world to see and stare,
And they’re haling him to justice for the colour of his hair.

Now ’tis oakum for his fingers and the treadmill for his feet,
And the quarry-gang on Portland in the cold and in the heat,
And between his spells of labour in the time he has to spare
He can curse the God that made him for the colour of his hair."

There is also another poem by Housman that I love a lot as well, but I ultimately chose to focus on the one shown above instead of this one. I was able to relate more to "The Colour of His Hair" than all the other poems written by him that caught my interest.
This poem is titled "If truth in hearts that perish" and it goes like this:
If truth in hearts that perish
      Could move the powers on high,
I think the love I bear you
      Should make you not to die.

Sure, sure, if stedfast meaning,
      If single thought could save,
The world might end to-morrow,
      You should not see the grave.

This long and sure-set liking,
      This boundless will to please,
 - Oh, you should live for ever
      If there were help in these.

But now, since all is idle,
      To this lost heart be kind,
Ere to a town you journey
      Where friends are ill to find.

I'll be back (most likely in a few hours--after this project is complete) to update on Pokemon! My Way, so see you guys then! :)