Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OVERLOOKING THE RIVER STOUR, by THOMAS HARDY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OVERLOOKING THE RIVER STOUR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The swallows flew in the curves of an eight
Last Line: These less things hold my gaze!
Subject(s): England; Rivers; Stour (river), England; English


THE swallows flew in the curves of an eight
Above the river-gleam
In the wet June's last beam:
Like little crossbows animate
The swallows flew in the curves of an eight
Above the river-gleam.

Planing up shavings of crystal spray
A moor-hen darted out
From the bank thereabout,
And through the stream-shine ripped his way;
Planing up shavings of crystal spray
A moor-hen darted out.

Closed were the kingcups; and the mead
Dripped in monotonous green,
Though the day's morning sheen
Had shown it golden and honeybee'd;
Closed were the kingcups; and the mead
Dripped in monotonous green.

And never I turned my head, alack,
While these things met my gaze
Through the pane's drop-drenched glaze,
To see the more behind my back....
O never I turned, but let, alack,
These less things hold my gaze!





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