Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CURATE'S KINDNESS (A WORKHOUSE IRONY), by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I thought they'd be strangers aroun' me Last Line: At pummery or ten-hatches weir. | ||||||||
I I THOUGHT they'd be strangers aroun' me, But she's to be there! Let me jump out o' waggon and go back and drown me At Pummery or Ten-Hatches Weir. II I thought: 'Well, I've come to the Union - The workhouse at last - After honest hard work all the week, and Communion O' Zundays, these fifty years past. III ''Tis hard; but,' I thought, 'never mind it: There's gain in the end: And when I get used to the place I shall find it A home, and may find there a friend. IV 'Life there will be better than t'other, For peace is assured. The men in one wing and their wives in another Is strictly the rule of the Board.' V Just then one young Pa'son arriving Steps up out of breath To the side o' the waggon wherein we were driving To Union; and calls out and saith: VI 'Old folks, that harsh order is altered, Be not sick of heart! The Guardians they poohed and they pished and they paltered When urged not to keep you apart. VII '"It is wrong," I maintained, "to divide them, Near forty years wed." "Very well, sir. We promise, then, they shall abide them In one wing together," they said.' VIII Then I sank - knew 'twas quite a foredone thing That misery should be To the end!... To get freed of her there was the one thing Had made the change welcome to me. IX To go there was ending but badly; 'Twas shame and 'twas pain; 'But anyhow,' thought I, 'thereby I shall gladly Get free of this forty years' chain.' X I thought they'd be strangers aroun' me, But she's to be there! Let me jump out o' waggon and go back and drown me At Pummery or Ten-Hatches Weir. | 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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