Self-Deprecating Silliness
Housman may actually mourn the loss of love – but he never lets his speakers tackle problems like love or loss or sadness with anything other than a light, sardonic (cynical) wit. He may come off as cynical, sure, but the joke's always on him. And as long as we feel like he's laughing at himself harder than we're laughing at him, chances are that we're probably going to be willing to go along for the ride.