by Thomas Hardy
Why load men’s minds with more to bear
That bear already ails to spare?
From now alway
Till my last day
What I discern I will not say.
Let Time roll backward if it will;
(Magians who drive the midnight quill
With brain aglow
Can see it so,)
What I have learnt no man shall know.
And if my vision range beyond
The blinkered sight of souls in bond,
— By truth made free —
I’ll let all be,
And show to no man what I see.
The Poems
Max Gate, Dorchester — the grand house built by Hardy’s father and brother for the famous writer in later years.
LIST OF POEMS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
THE TEMPORARY THE ALL
AMABEL
HAP
IN VISION I ROAMED TO -
AT A BRIDAL TO -
POSTPONEMENT
A CONFESSION TO A FRIEND IN TROUBLE
NEUTRAL TONES
SHE AT HIS FUNERAL
HER INITIALS
HER DILEMMA (IN — - CHURCH)
REVULSION
SHE, TO HIM — I
SHE, TO HIM — II
SHE, TO HIM — III
SHE, TO HIM — IV
DITTY (E. L G.)
THE SERGEANT’S SONG (1803)
VALENCIENNES
SAN SEBASTIAN
THE STRANGER’S SONG
THE BURGHERS (17-)
LEIPZIG
THE PEASANT’S CONFESSION
THE ALARM
HER DEATH AND AFTER
THE DANCE AT THE PHOENIX
THE CASTERBRIDGE CAPTAINS (KHYBER PASS, 1842)
A SIGN-SEEKER
MY CICELY (17-)
HER IMMORTALITY
THE IVY-WIFE
A MEETING WITH DESPAIR
UNKNOWING
FRIENDS BEYOND
TO OUTER NATURE
THOUGHTS OF PHENA AT NEWS OF HER DEATH
MIDDLE-AGE ENTHUSIASMS
IN A WOOD
TO A LADY OFFENDED BY A BOOK OF THE WRITER’S
TO AN ORPHAN CHILD A WHIMSEY
NATURE’S QUESTIONING
THE IMPERCIPIENT (AT A CATHEDRAL SERVICE)
AT AN INN
THE SLOW NATURE (AN INCIDENT OF FROOM VALLEY)
IN A EWELEAZE NEAR WEATHERBURY
THE FIRE AT TRANTER SWEATLEY’S
HEIRESS AND ARCHITECT FOR A. W. B.
THE TWO MEN
LINES
I LOOK INTO MY GLASS
V.R. 1819-1901 A REVERIE
EMBARCATION
DEPARTURE
THE COLONEL’S SOLILOQUY
THE GOING OF THE BATTERY
AT THE WAR OFFICE, LONDON
A CHRISTMAS GHOST-STORY
THE DEAD DRUMMER
A WIFE IN LONDON
THE SOULS OF THE SLAIN
SONG OF THE SOLDIERS’ WIVES
THE SICK GOD
GENOA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN
SHELLEY’S SKYLARK
IN THE OLD THEATRE, FIESOLE
ROME: ON THE PALATINE
ROME: BUILDING A NEW STREET IN THE ANCIENT QUARTER
ROME THE VATICAN — SALA DELLE MUSE (1887)
ROME AT THE PYRAMID OF CESTIUS
LAUSANNE
ZERMATT
THE BRIDGE OF LODI
ON AN INVITATION TO THE UNITED STATES
THE MOTHER MOURNS
I SAID TO LOVE
A COMMONPLACE DAY
AT A LUNAR ECLIPSE
THE LACKING SENSE
TO LIFE
DOOM AND SHE
THE PROBLEM
THE SUBALTERNS
THE SLEEP-WORKER
THE BULLFINCHES
GOD-FORGOTTEN
THE BEDRIDDEN PEASANT TO AN UNKNOWING GOD
BY THE EARTH’S CORPSE
MUTE OPINION
TO AN UNBORN PAUPER CHILD
TO FLOWERS FROM ITALY IN WINTER
ON A FINE MORNING
TO LIZBIE BROWNE
SONG OF HOPE
THE WELL-BELOVED
HER REPROACH
THE INCONSISTENT
A BROKEN APPOINTMENT
BETWEEN US NOW
HOW GREAT MY GRIEF (TRIOLET)
I NEED NOT GO
THE COQUETTE, AND AFTER (TRIOLETS)
A SPOT
LONG PLIGHTED
THE WIDOW
AT A HASTY WEDDING (TRIOLET)
THE DREAM-FOLLOWER
HIS IMMORTALITY
THE TO-BE-FORGOTTEN
WIVES IN THE SERE
THE SUPERSEDED
AN AUGUST MIDNIGHT
THE CAGED THRUSH FREED AND HOME AGAIN (VILLANELLE)
BIRDS AT WINTER NIGHTFALL (TRIOLET)
THE PUZZLED GAME-BIRDS (TRIOLET)
WINTER IN DURNOVER FIELD
THE LAST CHRYSANTHEMUM
THE DARKLING THRUSH
THE COMET AT YALBURY OR YELL’HAM
MAD JUDY
A WASTED ILLNESS
A MAN (IN MEMORY OF H. OF M.)
THE DAME OF ATHELHALL
THE SEASONS OF HER YEAR
THE MILKMAID
THE LEVELLED CHURCHYARD
THE RUINED MAID
THE RESPECTABLE BURGHER ON “THE HIGHER CRITICISM”
ARCHITECTURAL MASKS
THE TENANT-FOR-LIFE
THE KING’S EXPERIMENT
THE TREE AN OLD MAN’S STORY
HER LATE HUSBAND (KING’S-HINTOCK, 182-.)
THE SELF-UNSEEING
THE CHURCH-BUILDER
THE LOST PYX A MEDIAEVAL LEGEND
TESS’S LAMENT
THE SUPPLANTER A TALE
SAPPHIC FRAGMENT
AFTER SCHILLER
SONG FROM HEINE
FROM VICTOR HUGO
CARDINAL BEMBO’S EPITAPH ON RAPHAEL
I HAVE LIVED WITH SHADES
MEMORY AND I
GREEK TITLE
THE REVISITATION
A TRAMPWOMAN’S TRAGEDY (182-)
THE TWO ROSALINDS
A SUNDAY MORNING TRAGEDY (circa 186-)
THE HOUSE OF HOSPITALITIES
BEREFT
JOHN AND JANE
THE CURATE’S KINDNESS A WORKHOUSE IRONY
THE FLIRT’S TRAGEDY (17 — )
THE REJECTED MEMBER’S WIFE
THE FARM-WOMAN’S WINTER
AUTUMN IN KING’S HINTOCK PARK
SHUT OUT THAT MOON
REMINISCENCES OF A DANCING MAN
THE DEAD MAN WALKING
MORE LOVE LYRICS
HER DEFINITION
THE DIVISION
ON THE DEPARTURE PLATFORM
IN A CATHEDRAL CITY
I SAY I’LL SEEK HER
HER FATHER
AT WAKING
FOUR FOOTPRINTS
IN THE VAULTED WAY
IN THE MIND’S EYE
THE END OF THE EPISODE
THE SIGH
IN THE NIGHT SHE CAME
THE CONFORMERS
THE DAWN AFTER THE DANCE
THE SUN ON THE LETTER
THE NIGHT OF THE DANCE
MISCONCEPTION
THE VOICE OF THE THORN
FROM HER IN THE COUNTRY
HER CONFESSION
TO AN IMPERSONATOR OF ROSALIND
TO AN ACTRESS
THE MINUTE BEFORE MEETING
HE ABJURES LOVE
A SET OF COUNTRY SONGS
LET ME ENJOY (MINOR KEY)
AT CASTERBRIDGE FAIR
THE DARK-EYED GENTLEMAN
TO CARREY CLAVEL
THE ORPHANED OLD MAID
THE SPRING CALL
JULIE-JANE
NEWS FOR HER MOTHER
THE FIDDLER
THE HUSBAND’S VIEW
ROSE-ANN
THE HOMECOMING
P
IECES OCCASIONAL AND VARIOUS
A CHURCH ROMANCE
THE RASH BRIDE AN EXPERIENCE OF THE MELLSTOCK QUIRE
THE DEAD QUIRE
THE CHRISTENING
A DREAM QUESTION
BY THE BARROWS
A WIFE AND ANOTHER
THE ROMAN ROAD
THE VAMPIRINE FAIR
THE REMINDER
THE RAMBLER
NIGHT IN THE OLD HOME
AFTER THE LAST BREATH (J. H. 1813-1904)
IN CHILDBED
THE PINE PLANTERS (MARTY SOUTH’S REVERIE)
THE DEAR
ONE WE KNEW (M. H. 1772-1857)
SHE HEARS THE STORM
A WET NIGHT
BEFORE LIFE AND AFTER
NEW YEAR’S EVE
GOD’S EDUCATION
TO SINCERITY
PANTHERA
THE UNBORN
THE MAN HE KILLED
GEOGRAPHICAL KNOWLEDGE (A MEMORY OF CHRISTIANA C-)
ONE RALPH BLOSSOM SOLILOQUIZES
THE NOBLE LADY’S TALE (circa 1790)
UNREALIZED
WAGTAIL AND BABY
ABERDEEN
GEORGE MEREDITH 1828-1909
YELL’HAM-WOOD’S STORY
A YOUNG MAN’S EPIGRAM ON EXISTENCE
IN FRONT OF THE LANDSCAPE
CHANNEL FIRING
THE CONVERGENCE OF THE TWAIN
THE GHOST OF THE PAST
AFTER THE VISIT
TO MEET, OR OTHERWISE
THE DIFFERENCE
THE SUN ON THE BOOKCASE
WHEN I SET OUT FOR LYONNESSE
A THUNDERSTORM IN TOWN
THE TORN LETTER
BEYOND THE LAST LAMP
THE FACE AT THE CASEMENT
LOST LOVE
MY SPIRIT WILL NOT HAUNT THE MOUND
WESSEX HEIGHTS (1896)
IN DEATH DIVIDED
THE PLACE ON THE MAP
WHERE THE PICNIC WAS
A SINGER ASLEEP
A PLAINT TO MAN
GOD’S FUNERAL
SPECTRES THAT GRIEVE
AH, ARE YOU DIGGING ON MY GRAVE?
SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN FIFTEEN GLIMPSES
SELF-UNCONSCIOUS
THE DISCOVERY
TOLERANCE
BEFORE AND AFTER SUMMER
AT DAY-CLOSE IN NOVEMBER
THE YEAR’S AWAKENING
UNDER THE WATERFALL
THE SPELL OF THE ROSE
ST. LAUNCE’S REVISITED
THE GOING
YOUR LAST DRIVE
THE WALK
RAIN ON A GRAVE
I FOUND HER OUT THERE
WITHOUT CEREMONY
LAMENT
THE HAUNTER
THE VOICE
HIS VISITOR
A CIRCULAR
A DREAM OR NO
AFTER A JOURNEY
A DEATH-DAY RECALLED
BEENY CLIFF
AT CASTLE BOTEREL
PLACES
THE PHANTOM HORSEWOMAN
MISCELLANEOUS PIECES
THE WISTFUL LADY
THE WOMAN IN THE RYE
THE CHEVAL-GLASS
THE RE-ENACTMENT
HER SECRET
SHE CHARGED ME
THE NEWCOMER’S WIFE
A CONVERSATION AT DAWN
A KING’S SOLILOQUY ON THE NIGHT OF HIS FUNERAL
THE CORONATION
AQUAE SULIS
SEVENTY-FOUR AND TWENTY
THE ELOPEMENT
I ROSE UP AS MY CUSTOM IS
A WEEK
HAD YOU WEPT
BEREFT, SHE THINKS SHE DREAMS
IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM
IN THE SERVANTS’ QUARTERS
THE OBLITERATE TOMB
REGRET NOT ME
THE RECALCITRANTS
STARLINGS ON THE ROOF
THE MOON LOOKS IN
THE SWEET HUSSY
THE TELEGRAM
THE MOTH-SIGNAL
SEEN BY THE WAITS
THE TWO SOLDIERS
THE DEATH OF REGRET
IN THE DAYS OF CRINOLINE
THE ROMAN GRAVEMOUNDS
THE WORKBOX
THE SACRILEGE
THE ABBEY MASON
THE JUBILEE OF A MAGAZINE
THE SATIN SHOES
EXEUNT OMNES
A POET
POSTSCRIPT “MEN WHO MARCH AWAY” (SONG OF THE SOLDIERS)
MOMENTS OF VISION
THE VOICE OF THINGS
WHY BE AT PAINS?
WE SAT AT THE WINDOW
AT THE WICKET-GATE
IN A MUSEUM
APOSTROPHE TO AN OLD PSALM TUNE
AT THE WORD “FAREWELL”
FIRST SIGHT OF HER AND AFTER
THE RIVAL
HEREDITY
YOU WERE THE SORT THAT MEN FORGET
SHE, I, AND THEY
NEAR LANIVET, 1872
JOYS OF MEMORY
TO THE MOON
COPYING ARCHITECTURE IN AN OLD MINSTER
TO SHAKESPEARE AFTER THREE HUNDRED YEARS
QUID HIC AGIS?
ON A MIDSUMMER EVE
TIMING HER
BEFORE KNOWLEDGE
THE BLINDED BIRD
THE WIND BLEW WORDS
THE FADED FACE
THE RIDDLE
THE DUEL
AT MAYFAIR LODGINGS
TO MY FATHER’S VIOLIN
THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
THE BACKGROUND AND THE FIGURE
THE CHANGE
SITTING ON THE BRIDGE
THE YOUNG CHURCHWARDEN
I TRAVEL AS A PHANTOM NOW
LINES TO A MOVEMENT IN MOZART’S E-FLAT SYMPHONY
IN THE SEVENTIES
THE PEDIGREE
THIS HEART A WOMAN’S DREAM
WHERE THEY LIVED
THE OCCULTATION
LIFE LAUGHS ONWARD
THE PEACE-OFFERING
SOMETHING TAPPED
THE WOUND
A MERRYMAKING IN QUESTION
I SAID AND SANG HER EXCELLENCE
A JANUARY NIGHT (1879)
A KISS
THE ANNOUNCEMENT
THE OXEN
THE TRESSES
THE PHOTOGRAPH
ON A HEATH
AN ANNIVERSARY
BY THE RUNIC STONE
THE PINK FROCK
TRANSFORMATIONS
IN HER PRECINCTS
THE LAST SIGNAL
THE HOUSE OF SILENCE
GREAT THINGS
THE CHIMES
THE FIGURE IN THE SCENE
WHY DID I SKETCH
CONJECTURE
THE BLOW
LOVE THE MONOPOLIST
AT MIDDLE-FIELD GATE IN FEBRUARY
THE YOUTH WHO CARRIED A LIGHT
THE HEAD ABOVE THE FOG
OVERLOOKING THE RIVER STOUR
THE MUSICAL BOX
ON STURMINSTER FOOT-BRIDGE (ONOMATOPOEIC)
ROYAL SPONSORS
OLD FURNITURE
A THOUGHT IN TWO MOODS
THE LAST PERFORMANCE
YOU ON THE TOWER
THE INTERLOPER
LOGS ON THE HEARTH A MEMORY OF A SISTER
THE SUNSHADE
THE AGEING HOUSE
THE CAGED GOLDFINCH
AT MADAME TUSSAUD’S IN VICTORIAN YEARS
THE BALLET
THE FIVE STUDENTS
THE WIND’S PROPHECY
DURING WIND AND RAIN
HE PREFERS HER EARTHLY
THE DOLLS
MOLLY GONE
A BACKWARD SPRING
LOOKING ACROSS
AT A SEASIDE TOWN IN 1869
THE GLIMPSE
THE PEDESTRIAN AN INCIDENT OF 1883
WHO’S IN THE NEXT ROOM?
AT A COUNTRY FAIR
THE MEMORIAL BRASS: 186-
HER LOVE-BIRDS
PAYING CALLS
THE UPPER BIRCH-LEAVES<
br />
IT NEVER LOOKS LIKE SUMMER
EVERYTHING COMES
THE MAN WITH A PAST
HE FEARS HIS GOOD FORTUNE
HE WONDERS ABOUT HIMSELF
JUBILATE
HE REVISITS HIS FIRST SCHOOL
I THOUGHT, MY HEART
FRAGMENT
MIDNIGHT ON THE GREAT WESTERN
HONEYMOON TIME AT AN INN
THE ROBIN
I ROSE AND WENT TO ROU’TOR TOWN
THE NETTLES
IN A WAITING-ROOM
THE CLOCK-WINDER
OLD EXCURSIONS
THE MASKED FACE
IN A WHISPERING GALLERY
THE SOMETHING THAT SAVED HIM
THE ENEMY’S PORTRAIT
IMAGININGS
ON THE DOORSTEP
SIGNS AND TOKENS
PATHS OF FORMER TIME
THE CLOCK OF THE YEARS
AT THE PIANO
THE SHADOW ON THE STONE
IN THE GARDEN (M. H.)
THE TREE AND THE LADY
AN UPBRAIDING
THE YOUNG GLASS-STAINER
LOOKING AT A PICTURE ON AN ANNIVERSARY
THE CHOIRMASTER’S BURIAL
THE MAN WHO FORGOT
WHILE DRAWING IN A CHURCH-YARD
FOR LIFE I HAD NEVER CARED GREATLY
MEN WHO MARCH AWAY (SONG OF THE SOLDIERS)
HIS COUNTRY
ENGLAND TO GERMANY IN 1914
ON THE BELGIAN EXPATRIATION
AN APPEAL TO AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE BELGIAN DESTITUTE
THE PITY OF IT
IN TIME OF WARS AND TUMULTS
IN TIME OF “THE BREAKING OF NATIONS”
CRY OF THE HOMELESS AFTER THE PRUSSIAN INVASION OF BELGIUM
BEFORE MARCHING AND AFTER (in Memoriam F. W. G.)
OFTEN WHEN WARRING
THEN AND NOW
A CALL TO NATIONAL SERVICE
THE DEAD AND THE LIVING ONE
A NEW YEAR’S EVE IN WAR TIME
I MET A MAN
I LOOKED UP FROM MY WRITING
THE COMING OF THE END
AFTERWARDS
WEATHERS
THE MAID OF KEINTON MANDEVILLE
SUMMER SCHEMES
EPEISODIA
FAINTHEART IN A RAILWAY TRAIN
AT MOONRISE AND ONWARDS
THE GARDEN SEAT
BARTHÉLÉMON AT VAUXHALL
I SOMETIMES THINK
JEZREEL
A JOG-TROT PAIR
THE CURTAINS NOW ARE DRAWN
ACCORDING TO THE MIGHTY WORKING
I WAS NOT HE
THE WEST-OF-WESSEX GIRL
WELCOME HOME
GOING AND STAYING
READ BY MOONLIGHT
AT A HOUSE IN HAMPSTEAD
A WOMAN’S FANCY
HER SONG
A WET AUGUST
THE DISSEMBLERS
TO A LADY PLAYING AND SINGING IN THE MORNING
A MAN WAS DRAWING NEAR TO ME
THE STRANGE HOUSE
AS ‘TWERE TO-NIGHT
THE CONTRETEMPS
A GENTLEMAN’S EPITAPH ON HIMSELF AND A LADY, WHO WERE BURIED TOGETHER
THE OLD GOWN
A NIGHT IN NOVEMBER
A DUETTIST TO HER PIANOFORTE
WHERE THREE ROADS JOINED
AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM
HAUNTING FINGERS
A PHANTASY IN A MUSEUM OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
THE WOMAN I MET
IF IT’S EVER SPRING AGAIN
THE TWO HOUSES
