Living

Her Apotheosis

by Thomas Hardy 1840–1928

From Late Lyrics and Earlier, With Many Other Verses

LivingTime & Brevity

THERE was a spell of leisure,
No record vouches when;
With honours, praises, pleasure
To womankind from men.

But no such lures bewitched me,
No hand was stretched to raise,
No gracious gifts enriched me,
No voices sang my praise.

Yet an iris at that season
Amid the accustomed slight
From denseness, dull unreason,
Ringed me with living light.

✦ ✦ ✦

“Secretum meum mihi” (Faded woman’s song)

MLA

Hardy, Thomas. “Her Apotheosis.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/962/.

Chicago

Hardy, Thomas. “Her Apotheosis.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hardy/962/.

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