Alfred Edward Housman

A Shropshire Lad. 57. You Smile upon Your Friend To-Day

You smile upon your friend to-day,
   To-day his ills are over;
You hearken to the lover's say,
   And happy is the lover.

'Tis late to hearken, late to smile,
   But better late than never;
I shall have lived a little while
   Before I die for ever.