"To An Athlete Dying Young" happens to be one of my favorite poem of the three that I was asked to choose from. It is a very dramatic monologue poem written by A.E. Housman. This selection is one of my favorite because it is so heartfelt and meaningful. In the first stanza he writes about the thrill, honor, and devotion of a young athlete. All of the town respects and appreciates his many athletic talents, he is truly the overall champion. As the poem moves on to the second and third stanza's the poem moves through the athletes years and as he becomes ill in his health. The poem in whole is a simile of sporting events comparing life to a game. the runners in the race become the sickly and the end of the race represents the end of life.