Time & Brevity

The Echo-elf answers

by Thomas Hardy 1840–1928

From Human Shows, Far Phantasies, Songs and Trifles (1925)

Time & Brevity

How much shall I love her?
For life, or not long?
“Not long.”

Alas! When forget her?
In years, or by Tune?
“By June.”

And whom woo I after?
No one, or a throng?
“A throng.”

Of these shall I wed one
Long hence, or quite soon?
“Quite soon.”

And which will my bride be?
The right or the wrong?
“The wrong.”

And my remedy — what kind?
Wealth-wove, or earth-hewn?
“Earth-hewn.”

MLA

Hardy, Thomas. “The Echo-elf answers.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/624/.

Chicago

Hardy, Thomas. “The Echo-elf answers.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/624/.

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