Classic and Contemporary Poetry
FRAGMENT, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: At last I entered a long dark gallery Last Line: If the world goes on.' | ||||||||
AT last I entered a long dark gallery, Catacomb-lined; and ranged at the side Were the bodies of men from far and wide Who, motion past, were nevertheless not dead. 'The sense of waiting here strikes strong; Everyone's waiting, waiting, it seems to me; What are you waiting for so long? - What is to happen?' I said. 'O we are waiting for one called God,' said they, '(Though by some the Will, or Force, or Laws; And, vaguely, by some, the Ultimate Cause); Waiting for him to see us before we are clay. Yes; waiting, waiting, for God to know it.' ... 'To know what?' questioned I. 'To know how things have been going on earth and below it: It is clear he must know some day.' I thereon asked them why. 'Since he made us humble pioneers Of himself in consciousness of Life's tears, It needs no mighty prophecy To tell that what he could mindlessly show His creatures, he himself will know. 'By some still close-cowled mystery We have reached feeling faster than he, But he will overtake us anon, If the world goes on.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEN WHO MARCH AWAY' (SONG OF THE SOLDIERS) by THOMAS HARDY A BROKEN APPOINTMENT by THOMAS HARDY A CHRISTMAS GHOST-STORY; CHRISTMAS-EVE 1899 by THOMAS HARDY A THOUGHT IN TWO MOODS by THOMAS HARDY A THUNDERSTORM IN TOWN by THOMAS HARDY A TRAMPWOMAN'S TRAGEDY by THOMAS HARDY A WIFE IN LONDON by THOMAS HARDY ACCORDING TO THE MIGHTY WORKING by THOMAS HARDY |
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