"A Shropshire Lad 2: Loveliest of trees, the cherry now" is a really short poem, only three stanzas long, that was written by author A.E Housman and which made part of a larger collection known as "A Shropshire Lad", that was published in 1896. This volume, as well as "Last Poems", which was published in 1922, were the only two poetic works published by Housman. "A Shropshire Lad 2: Loveliest of trees, the cherry now" narrates the story of a person, the speaker, who is reflecting on the passage of time, especially of his own years, as he observes nature around him and its changes, especially the cherry blossoms, spring and the land where he is standing. He also reflects on his own mortality and the way in which he may correctly pass the last 50 years that he has left, after having lived 20. Throughout the poem, there are many symbols that speak about passage of time and the shortness of life, but nothing shows how fast things might change in an instant, better, than the image of the C: Cherry blossoms, as the speaker notes that they are in bloom, dressed all in white, but just like his life, which is passing by, this might change really fast. So he wants to start taking advantage of the time he has left and live life to the fullest.
