He stood, and heard the steeple Sprinkle the quarters on the morning town. One, two, three, four, to market-place and people It tossed them down. Strapped, noosed, nighing his hour, He stood and counted them and cursed his luck; And then the clock collected in the tower Its strength, and struck.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- A condemned man counts the time until his death as the clock strikes.
- In plain terms
- A man waits for death while listening to the clock.
- What can you take from it?
- Time passes relentlessly even when we await tragedy.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does time feel when you wait?
- What marks your most dreaded moments?
Another view
It focuses on the external event rather than the internal state.
More from A. E. Housman
And how am I to face the odds Of man's bedevilment and God's? I, a stranger and afraid In a world I never made.
Permalink to quote #37 Happy bridegroom, Hesper brings All desired and timely things. All whom morning sends to roam, Hesper loves to lead them home. Home return who him behold, Chil…
Permalink to quote #39 The laws of God, the laws of man, He may keep that will and can; Now I: let God and man decree Laws for themselves and not for me.
Permalink to quote #36
Related quotes
'You wait and you wait for somethin' big to happen... and then you find out you gon' die.
Queen LatifahQueen Latifah quote #6 Time wounds all heels.
Jane AceJane Ace quote #1 O time, arrest your flight! and you, propitious hours, arrest your course! Let us savor the fleeting delights of our most beautiful days!
Alphonse de LamartineAlphonse de Lamartine quote #1