Nature

Life Laughs Onward

by Thomas Hardy 1840–1928

From Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses

Nature

RAMBLING I looked for an old abode
Where, years back, one had lived I knew;
Its site a dwelling duly showed,
But it was new.

I went where, not so long ago,
The sod had riven two breasts asunder;
Daisies throve gaily there, as though
No grave were under.

I walked along a terrace where
Loud children gambolled in the sun;
The figure that had once sat there
Was missed by none.

Life laughed and moved on unsubdued,
I saw that Old succumbed to Young:
’Twas well. My too regretful mood
Died on my tongue.

MLA

Hardy, Thomas. “Life Laughs Onward.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/298/.

Chicago

Hardy, Thomas. “Life Laughs Onward.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/298/.

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