Poem by Edward Thomas

And You, Helen

And you, Helen, what should I give you?
So many things I would give you
Had I an infinite great store
Offered me and I stood before
To choose. I would give you youth,
All kinds of loveliness and truth,
A clear eye as good as mine,
Lands, waters, flowers, wine,
As many children as your heart
Might wish for, a far better art
Than mine can be, all you have lost
Upon the travelling waters tossed,
Or given to me. If I could choose
Freely in that great treasure-house
Anything from any shelf,
I would give you back yourself,
And power to discriminate
What you want and want it not too late,
Many fair days free from care
And heart to enjoy both foul and fair,
And myself, too, if I could find
Where it lay hidden and it proved kind.

 

Edward Thomas  (died at the battle of Arras, 1917)

 

"What you want and want it not too late" .... Every single real-life person with whom I have discussed younger daughter's ski chalet experience has said the same thing.  That one must do what one wants in life, and do it not too late.

 

The poet's wife was called Helen. He wasn't very nice to her in real life.  It's hard to really love someone, not just in words.

 

Never too old to learn something new, and never to old to try to do better.  

 

 "And myself too if I could find

Where it lay hidden and it proved kind"

 

The poet knew.

 

To my daughter, with love from Mum