Poems From "A Shropshire Lad" - VII

When smoke stood up from Ludlow,     And mist blew off from Teme,     And blithe afield to ploughing     Against the morning beam     I strode beside my team,     The blackbird in the coppice     Looked out to see me stride,     And hearkened as I whistled     The tramping team beside,     And fluted and replied:     "Lie down, lie down, young yeoman;     What use to rise and rise?     Rise man a thousand mornings     Yet down at last he lies,     And then the man is wise."     I heard the tune he sang me,     And spied his yellow bill;     I picked a stone and aimed it     And threw it with a will:     Then the bird was still.     Then my soul within me     Took up the blackbird's strain,     And still beside the horses     Along the dewy lane     It Sang the song again:     "Lie down, lie down, young yeoman;     The sun moves always west;     The road one treads to labour     Will lead one home to rest,     And that will be the best."