Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A NEW YEAR'S EVE IN WAR TIME, by THOMAS HARDY


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A NEW YEAR'S EVE IN WAR TIME, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Phantasmal fears
Last Line: To pale europe; and tiredly the pines intone.
Subject(s): Holidays; New Year; World War I; First World War


I

PHANTASMAL fears,
And the flap of the flame,
And the throb of the clock,
And a loosened slate,
And the blind night's drone,
Which tiredly the spectral pines intone!

II

And the blood in my ears
Strumming always the same,
And the gable-cock
With its fitful grate,
And myself, alone.

III

The twelfth hour nears
Hand-hid, as in shame;
I undo the lock,
And listen, and wait
For the Young Unknown.

IV

In the dark there careers -
As if Death astride came
To numb all with his knock -
A horse at mad rate
Over rut and stone.

V

No figure appears,
No call of my name,
No sound but 'Tic-toc'
Without check. Past the gate
It clatters - is gone.

VI

What rider it bears
There is none to proclaim;
And the Old Year has struck,
And, scarce animate,
The New makes moan.

VII

Maybe that 'More Tears! -
More Famine and Flame -
More Severance and Shock!'
Is the order from Fate
That the Rider speeds on
To pale Europe; and tiredly the pines intone.






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