Poems of the Past and the Present

Name: Poems of the Past and the Present
Author: Hardy, Thomas

Hardy, Thomas

English poetry

IV

   And it was I who did it all,
            Who did it all;
   ’Twas I who made the blow to fall
      On him who thought no guile.
   Well, it is finished—past, and he
   Has left me to my misery,
   And I must take my Cross on me
      For wronging him awhile.

                                    V

   How gay we looked that day we wed,
         That day we wed!
   “May joy be with ye!” all o’m said
      A standing by the durn.
   I wonder what they say o’s now,
   And if they know my lot; and how
   She feels who milks my favourite cow,
      And takes my place at churn!

                                    VI

   It wears me out to think of it,
         To think of it;
   I cannot bear my fate as writ,
      I’d have my life unbe;
   Would turn my memory to a blot,
   Make every relic of me rot,
   My doings be as they were not,
      And what they’ve brought to me!



THE SUPPLANTER
A TALE


                                    I

   HE bends his travel-tarnished feet
      To where she wastes in clay:
   From day-dawn until eve he fares
      Along the wintry way;
   From day-dawn until eve repairs
      Unto her mound to pray.

                                    II

   “Are these the gravestone shapes that meet
      My forward-straining view?
   Or forms that cross a window-blind
      In circle, knot, and queue:
   Gay forms, that cross and whirl and wind
      To music throbbing through?”—

                                   III

   “The Keeper of the Field of Tombs
      Dwells by its gateway-pier;
   He celebrates with feast and dance
      His daughter’s twentieth year:
   He celebrates with wine of France
      The birthday of his dear.”—

                                    IV

   “The gates are shut when evening glooms:
      Lay down your wreath, sad wight;
   To-morrow is a time more fit
      For placing flowers aright:
   The morning is the time for it;
      Come, wake with us to-night!”—

                                    V

   He grounds his wreath, and enters in,
      And sits, and shares their cheer.—
   “I fain would foot with you, young man,
      Before all others here;
   I fain would foot it for a span
      With such a cavalier!”

                                    VI

   She coaxes, clasps, nor fails to win
      His first-unwilling hand:
   The merry music strikes its staves,
      The dancers quickly band;
   And with the damsel of the graves
      He duly takes his stand.

                                   VII

   “You dance divinely, stranger swain,
      Such grace I’ve never known.
   O longer stay!  Breathe not adieu
      And leave me here alone!
   O longer stay: to her be true
      Whose heart is all your own!”—

                                   VIII

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Poems of the Past and the Present

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