Three More Housman Songs

'Tis five years since, "An end," said I,
"I'll march no further, time to die.
All's lost; no worse has heaven to give."
Worse it has given, and yet I live.

I shall not die today, no fear:
I shall live yet for many a year,
And see worse ills and worse again,
And die of age and not of pain.

When God would rear from earth aloof
The blue height of the hollow roof,
He sought him pillars sure and strong,
And ere he found them sought them long.

The stark steel splintered from the thrust,
The basalt mountain sprang to dust,
The blazing pier of diamond flawed
In shards of rainbows all abroad.

What found he that the heav'ns stand fast?
What pillar proven firm at last
Bears up so light that world-seen span?
The heart of man, the heart of man.

Good-night; ensured release,
Imperishable peace,
  Have these for yours,
While sea abides, and land,
And earth's foundations stand,
  And heaven endures.

When earth's foundations flee,
Nor sky nor land nor sea
  At all is found,
Content you, let them burn:
It is not your concern;
  Sleep on, sleep sound.

"Oh is it the jar of nations,
    The noise of a world run mad,
The fleeing of earth's foundations?"
    Yes, yes; lie quiet, my lad.

"Oh is it my country calling,
    And whom will my country find
To shore up the sky from falling?"
    My business; never you mind.

"Oh is it the newsboys crying
    Lost battle, retreat, despair,
And honour and England dying?"
    Well, fighting cock, what if it were?

The devil this side of the darnels
    Is having a dance with man,
And quarrelsome chaps in charnels
    Must bear it as best they can.