Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DURING WIND AND RAIN, by THOMAS HARDY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DURING WIND AND RAIN, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: They sing their dearest songs
Last Line: Down their carved names the rain-drop ploughs.
Subject(s): Death; Holidays; Mourning; New Year; Rain; Time; Wind; Dead, The; Bereavement


THEY sing their dearest songs -
He, she, all of them - yea,
Treble and tenor and bass,
And one to play;
With the candles mooning each face....
Ah, no; the years O!
How the sick leaves reel down in throngs!

They clear the creeping moss -
Elders and juniors - aye,
Making the pathways neat
And the garden gay;
And they build a shady seat....
Ah, no; the years, the years;
See, the white storm-birds wing across!

They are blithely breakfasting all -
Men and maidens - yea,
Under the summer tree,
With a glimpse of the bay,
While pet fowl come to the knee....
Ah, no; the years O!
And the rotten rose is ript from the wall.

They change to a high new house,
He, she, all of them - aye,
Clocks and carpets and chairs
On the lawn all day,
And brightest things that are theirs....
Ah, no; the years, the years;
Down their carved names the rain-drop ploughs.





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