A Shropshire Lad/The Recruit

by Alfred Edward Housman

III

The Recruit

Leave your home behind, lad, And reach your friends your hand,And go, and luck go with you While Ludlow tower shall stand.

Oh, come you home of Sunday When Ludlow streets are stillAnd Ludlow bells are calling To farm and lane and mill,

Or come you home of Monday When Ludlow market humsAnd Ludlow chimes are playing 'The conquering hero comes,'

Come you home a hero,  Or come not home at all, The lads you leave will mind you Till Ludlow tower shall fall.

And you will list the bugle  That blows in lands of morn, And make the foes of England  Be sorry you were born.

And you till trump of doomsday  On lands of morn may lie, And make the hearts of comrades  Be heavy where you die.

Leave your home behind you, Your friends by field and town: Oh, town and field will mind you  Till Ludlow tower is down.

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