Alfred Edward Housman

More Poems. 37. I Did Not Lose My Heart in Summer’s Even

I did not lose my heart in summer’s even,
        When roses to the moonrise burst apart:
When plumes were under heel and lead was flying,
        In blood and smoke and flame I lost my heart.

I lost it to a soldier and a foeman,
        A chap that did not kill me, but he tried;
That took the sabre straight and took it striking
        And laughed and kissed his hand to me and died.