On Oscar Wilde, by A.E. Housman (3)

proccie's profile . proccie's homepage

proccie

Posted by proccie on Tue 20 May 08, 7:15 PM to proccie's blog.

On Oscar Wilde, by A.E. Housman

Oh who is that young sinner with the handcuffs on his wrists?
And what has he been after that they groan and shake their fists?
And wherefore is he wearing such a conscience-stricken air?
Oh they're taking him to prison for the colour of his hair.

'Tis a shame to human nature, such a head of hair as his;
In the good old time 'twas hanging for the colour that it is;
Though hanging isn't bad enough and flaying would be fair
For the nameless and abominable colour of his hair.

Oh a deal of pains he's taken and a pretty price he's paid
To hide his poll or dye it of a mentionable shade;
But they've pulled the beggar's hat off for the world to see and stare,
And they're haling him to justice for the colour of his hair.

Now 'tis oakum for his fingers and the treadmill for his feet
And the quarry-gang on Portland in the cold and in the heat,
And between his spells of labour in the time he has to spare
He can curse the God that made him for the colour of his hair.

A.E Housman.

I like this poem, and just at the moment I can identify with the young sinner, and not just because of the handcuffs.

I thought that we were living in a society that was getting fairer and more open, I was wrong. Now we can be prosecuted and haled to justice for images that we may not even be aware are illegal until they are tested in court.

proccie

Edited Sat 31 May 08, 8:23 AM by proccie

Replies

20 May 08, 7:39 PM
MarcusStrapp
UK(CB), 7 yrs

Proccie wrote:
A.E Housman.

I like this poem, and just at the moment I can identify with the young simmer, and not just because of the handcuffs.

I know, I know. It's enough to bring your blood to the boil!

The Fetish Photo Album A free and private flickr group for IC members to share dirty pictures!

20 May 08, 8:25 PM
rodm99
UK(CB), 7 yrs

Great poem - I'd no idea that Housman had written anything like. Housman was so very very deeply closeted all his life - Wilde must have seemed to him extraordinarily courageous. Sadly, the poem, though written at the times of Wilde's trial, remained unpublished until after Housman's death in 1936.

'Twosies beats onesies, but nothing beats three...'

Edited 20 May 08, 8:28 PM by rodm99

20 Mar 09, 7:22 AM
proccie
UK(HP), 5 yrs

MarcusStrapp wrote:

Proccie wrote:
A.E Housman.

I like this poem, and just at the moment I can identify with the young simmer, and not just because of the handcuffs.

I know, I know. It's enough to bring your blood to the boil!

Oh har de fucking har, that's really funny that it. ROFPMSL.

Zen S&M: The sound of one hand smacking.
'()_/)
(>'.'<)
(")_(") < MINE!