Far in a western brookland
That bred me long ago
The poplars stand and tremble
By pools I used to know.
There, in the windless night-time,
The wanderer, marvelling why,
Halts on the bridge to hearken
How soft the poplars sigh.
He hears: no more remembered
In fields where I was known,
Here I lie down in London
And turn to rest alone.
There, by the starlit fences,
 The wanderer halts and hears
 My soul that lingers sighing
About the glimmering weirs.

Alfred Edward Housman (1859 - 1936) was a renowned English poet who was also known for his meticulous and intelligent commentaries on classical literature. In 1896, he published 'A Shropshire Lad', a cycle of sixty-three poems which centre round themes of pastoral beauty, fleeting youth, grief, death and the patriotism of the common soldier. His 'Last Poems' was published in 1922, he became Professor of Latin at Trinity College, a post he held until his death.

1. hearken: listen
2. weirs: dams