Time & Brevity

To Louisa in the Lane

by Thomas Hardy 1840–1928

From Winter Words in Various Moods and Metres (1928)

Time & Brevity

Meet me again as at that time
In the hollow of the lane;
I will not pass as in my prime
I passed at each day’s wane. —
Ah, I remember!
To do it you will have to see
Anew this sorry scene wherein you have ceased to be!

But I will welcome your aspen form
As you gaze wondering round
And say with spectral frail alarm,
“Why am I still here found? —
Ah, I remember!
It is through him with blitheful brow
Who did not love me then, but loves and draws me now!”

And I shall answer: “Sweet of eyes,
Carry me with you, Dear,
To where you donned this spirit-guise;
It’s better there than here!” — I” —
Till I remember
Such is a deed you cannot do:
Wait must I, till with flung-off flesh I follow you.

MLA

Hardy, Thomas. “To Louisa in the Lane.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/677/.

Chicago

Hardy, Thomas. “To Louisa in the Lane.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/677/.

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