[New-Poetry] For the WEPD experiment: Houseman's Poem

[Richard Wilsnack]

Bob Grumman wrote:
> TheOldMole wrote:
>> Bob -- I think we should get together and have a beer over this, 
>> because malt does more than Housman can, to justify Nature's ways to 
>> man,
> You're right, Mole.  We should invite the opposition, too.  Enough 
> beers and we should be able to straighten everything out.
After all,

"Ale, man, ale's the stuff to drink
For fellows whom it hurts to think..."

and

"The troubles of our proud and angry dust
Are from eternity, and shall not fail.
Bear them we can, and if we can we must.
Shoulder the sky, my lad, and drink your ale."

How should Housman's sobriety (or lack thereof?) when writing
"Loveliest of trees..." affect our interpretation (if at all)?

Richard W. Wilsnack
rwilsnac at medicine.nodak.edu