Six years ago in the summer of 2017 I posted my version of British poet A.E. Housman’s classic poem “When I was One and Twenty” published in 1896 in a collection called A Shropshire Lad. Housman, who was born in 1859 and died in 1936 at the age of seventy-seven, had partially funded the publication of A Shropshire Lad following a publisher’s rejection. In today’s jargon, we call that self-publishing. The book has been in continuous print since then so somewhere in London a poetry publisher in the last decade of the nineteenth century cursed himself on a Roman British tablet…or on something equally appropriate for turning down this classic.
When I Was One-and-Twenty
When I was one and twenty, my father said to me,
“Work hard, be kind to others, the truth will set you free;
a penny saved is a penny earned was his advice to me.”
But I was one and twenty, no use to talk to me.
When I was one and twenty, my father said again,
“Work harder, be smarter, but always be a friend;
love family, serve country, life’s games are played to win.”
And now I’m seven and seventy I hear my father say,
“You did your best, forget the rest, your heart led all the way.”
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Tomorrow is my 77th. birthday which I have celebrated with Pretty and our two best friends Nekki and Francie in the south of France for ten remarkable days filled with delicious food, three days at the Masters 1000 Tennis Tournament in Monte Carlo, and a day at the Cannes Films Festival (or “pre-festival” according to Pretty who knows everything about pop culture) where I donated my last American dollars to a casino next to the pink carpet.
The trip was on my short bucket list – a trip made possible through the generosity of our friends whose love and laughter made my bucket overflow with happiness. The time with Pretty is always special – luckily she came home with me but told me she would like to live in Nice for two years (if she could bring her granddaughters and their parents!).
(l. to r.) Francie, me, Pretty, Nekki – country come to town
Pretty and me at Matisse Museum
Francie and me grateful for bus
after unexpected downpour leaving Matisse Museum
Francie and Nekki on hotel rooftop
Pretty happy with setting, lunch and the polka dot hat
Thanks to our trip photographer Nekki for capturing some of our memory makers.
And thanks to all of you, my readers and followers who have also become my friends, for sharing part of my journey over the past thirteen years. Impossible to imagine that time without you.
Onward.
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Slava Ukraini. For the children.
I'll Call It Like I See It 
Comments
20 responses to “and now I’m seven and seventy”
How wonderful, Sheila! wise words and Happy Birthday! (belated)
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Thanks so much, Becky!!
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Happy birthday!!!!!
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How wonderful! Happy Birthday & Many, Many More!
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Thanks so very much, Cindy! If you had been with us, you could have captured many bird pictures!!
Your posts have meant the world to me through the years…
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Happy birthday!!
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Thanks!!
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Happy Birthday dear friend! What a great celebration for all of you. All the best throughout your birthday year!! 🥳
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Thank you so very much, Ann!
I think you would have enjoyed the “art part” of our trip. I have to say my personal artistic preference is your horses!!
You have been a treasure for me for lo, these many moons. We have been through it all together…and that’s the way I like it.
Love to you and yours from South Carolina tonight
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Thank you so much. You both gave me the courage to believe in myself. Love you!!
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Turning to face your fears, you meet the warrior who lives within.
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Love your poem and all the photos. Happy, happy birthday Sheila 🙂
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June, you are so sweet to say you loved my poem since I have always secretly thought of myself as an undiscovered poet!! 🙂
Thank you so very much for the birthday wishes!
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Another side of you to discover for yourself..that’s a good thing 🙂
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Happy birthday, friend!!! Hope the year ahead is filled with joy, laughter, nd good health! Hope to get together aga
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Thanks so very much, War Eagle Nan! Your friendship is a special gift!
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You are a very lucky girl! Happy, happy, happy birthday 🎈 xAx
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Thank you very much, Annie! I am a lucky girl…thought of you every day I enjoyed the French gracious hospitality – and the tennis, oo la la!!!
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Glad the tennis lived up to expectations! We’d have been very disappointed if France hadn’t been gracious in its hospitality. The dollar will have gone further than usual but inflation will have undone all those benefits. Worth it though!
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Worth every euro!!
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