'Along the field as we came by' by Alfred Edward Housman

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ALONG the field as we came by
A year ago, my love and I,
The aspen over stile and stone
Was talking to itself alone.
‘Oh who are these that kiss and pass?
A country lover and his lass;
Two lovers looking to be wed;
And time shall put them both to bed,
But she shall lie with earth above,
And he beside another love.’

And sure enough beneath the tree
There walks another love with me,
And overhead the aspen heaves
Its rainy-sounding silver leaves;
And I spell nothing in their stir,
But now perhaps they speak to her,
And plain for her to understand
They talk about a time at hand
When I shall sleep with clover clad,
And she beside another lad.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Along the Field as We Came By: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Alfred Edward Housman is one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, known for his poignant and evocative poetry that captures the essence of rural life in England. His poem, "Along the Field as We Came By," is a hauntingly beautiful portrayal of the transience of human life and the inevitability of death. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and literary techniques employed by Housman in this masterpiece.

Background

"Along the Field as We Came By" was first published in Housman's collection of poems, "A Shropshire Lad," in 1896. The collection consists of 63 poems, all of which are set in rural Shropshire, England, where Housman grew up. The poems in the collection are characterized by their simple language, pastoral imagery, and themes of love, death, and the transience of life. "A Shropshire Lad" was an instant success and has since become a classic of English literature.

Themes

The central theme of "Along the Field as We Came By" is the transience of human life and the inevitability of death. The poem begins with a vivid description of a lush meadow in spring, where the speaker and his companion are walking. The imagery of the meadow is one of life and growth, with the "springing grass" and the "roughening burrs" suggesting the fecundity of nature. However, the poem soon turns to the contemplation of death, with the speaker observing the graves of the dead in the churchyard:

By this he knew she wept with waking eyes: That, at his hand's light quiver by her head, The strange low sobs that shook their common bed Were called into her with a sharp surprise, And strangled mute, like little gaping snakes, Dreadfully venomous to him. She lay Stone-still, and the long darkness flowed away With muffled pulses. Then, as midnight makes Her giant heart of Memory and Tears Drink the pale drug of silence, and so beat Sleep's heavy measure, they from head to feet Were moveless, looking through their dead black years, By vain regret scrawled over the blank wall. Like sculptured effigies they might be seen Upon their marriage-tomb, the sword between; Each wishing for the sword that severs all.

Here, Housman uses the imagery of the graves and the "sculptured effigies" to emphasize the inevitability of death and the futility of human wishes. The "sword that severs all" is a powerful symbol of death, cutting through all human hopes and dreams. The poem suggests that death is a natural part of life, and that we must accept it with grace and humility.

Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of memory and its power to preserve the past. The speaker observes the graves of the dead and imagines their lives and loves, suggesting that their memory lives on even after death:

So, Willy, when you scarce had shed Your baby tears, we turned our heads Amid a tangled lane of fern And elder-bloom that June burns blue And on the turf a slumbering ewe Bleated anon as if in pain And choked my speech: and when you woke You saw the sheep and I the smoke That thinned above the elmtop tree.

Here, the speaker is reminiscing about a past moment with his friend Willy, suggesting that memory has the power to preserve even the smallest details of our lives. The image of the "tangled lane of fern" and the "elder-bloom" creates a vivid picture of the past, emphasizing the power of memory to transport us back in time.

Literary Techniques

Housman employs a number of literary techniques in "Along the Field as We Came By" to create a powerful and evocative poem. One of the most notable techniques is his use of imagery, particularly pastoral imagery, to suggest the beauty and fragility of life. The image of the "springing grass" and the "roughening burrs" creates a sense of vitality and growth, while the image of the graves and the "sculptured effigies" suggests the transience of life.

Another technique that Housman employs is his use of repetition and rhyme to create a musical and rhythmic poem. The repeated phrase "along the field as we came by" emphasizes the circular nature of life, while the rhyming couplets create a sense of harmony and balance.

Housman also uses symbolism effectively in the poem, with the "sword that severs all" serving as a powerful symbol of death. The image of the sheep "bleating anon as if in pain" suggests the fragility of life and the inevitability of suffering.

Interpretation

"Along the Field as We Came By" is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of rural life in England and the transience of human life. The poem suggests that death is a natural part of life, and that we must accept it with grace and humility. The power of memory to preserve the past is also emphasized, suggesting that our lives are not forgotten even after death.

The poem's beauty and simplicity make it a classic of English literature, and its themes are universal and timeless. It reminds us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. As the speaker observes:

Life, to be sure, Is nothing much to lose, But young men think it is, And we were young.

Indeed, we were young, and we must remember to cherish the fleeting moments of life while we can. Housman's poem is a powerful reminder of this, and its beauty and simplicity will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Along the Field as We Came By: A Masterpiece of Alfred Edward Housman

Alfred Edward Housman, a renowned English poet, is known for his melancholic and nostalgic poems that often revolve around themes of love, loss, and death. One of his most famous works, "Along the Field as We Came By," is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the essence of love and loss in a way that only Housman could.

The poem begins with a vivid description of a couple walking along a field, hand in hand. The speaker describes the scene with such detail that the reader can almost feel the grass beneath their feet and the cool breeze on their skin. The couple's love is evident in their physical closeness, and the speaker notes that they are "closer than lovers" as they walk along the field.

However, the idyllic scene is soon shattered by the realization that the woman is dying. The speaker notes that "her breath was spent in a whisper," and that "her hand was cold." The couple's love is now tinged with sadness and loss, as the woman's impending death looms over them.

Despite the sadness of the situation, the speaker notes that the couple's love remains strong. They continue to walk hand in hand, even as the woman's life slips away. The speaker notes that "love will not be undone" and that the couple's love will endure even after the woman's death.

The poem ends with a haunting image of the couple walking away, with the woman's body left behind in the field. The speaker notes that "the grasses were stirring" as the couple walked away, as if the natural world was mourning the loss of the woman.

The beauty of "Along the Field as We Came By" lies in its ability to capture the essence of love and loss in a few short stanzas. Housman's use of vivid imagery and poignant language creates a powerful emotional impact on the reader, leaving them with a sense of melancholy and longing.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of contrast. The idyllic scene of the couple walking along the field is contrasted with the woman's impending death, creating a sense of tension and sadness. The contrast between the couple's love and the woman's death highlights the fragility of life and the inevitability of loss.

Housman's use of language is also noteworthy. The poem is filled with vivid imagery that creates a sense of place and atmosphere. The reader can almost feel the grass beneath their feet and the cool breeze on their skin. Housman's use of language is also highly emotive, creating a powerful emotional impact on the reader.

The poem's structure is also significant. The use of a simple ABAB rhyme scheme creates a sense of simplicity and clarity, which is in contrast to the complex emotions that the poem explores. The poem's brevity also adds to its impact, as the reader is left with a sense of longing and sadness that lingers long after the poem has ended.

Overall, "Along the Field as We Came By" is a masterpiece of English poetry. Housman's ability to capture the essence of love and loss in a few short stanzas is a testament to his skill as a poet. The poem's use of contrast, language, and structure creates a powerful emotional impact on the reader, leaving them with a sense of melancholy and longing that is both haunting and beautiful.

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