Religion

The Problem

by Thomas Hardy 1840–1928

From Poems of the Past and the Present

Religion

SHALL we conceal the Case, or tell it—
We who believe the evidence?
Here and there the watch-towers knell it
With a sullen significance,
Heard of the few who hearken intently and carry an eagerly upstrained
sense.

Hearts that are happiest hold not by it;
Better we let, then, the old view reign;
Since there is peace in it, why decry it?
Since there is comfort, why disdain?
Note not the pigment the while that the painting determines humanity’s
joy and pain!

MLA

Hardy, Thomas. “The Problem.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/221/.

Chicago

Hardy, Thomas. “The Problem.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/221/.

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