Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE MAN WITH A PAST, by THOMAS HARDY



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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MAN WITH A PAST, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: There was merry-making
Last Line: One on me.


THERE was merry-making
When the first dart fell
As a heralding, -

Till grinned the fully bared thing,
And froze like a spell -
Like a spell.

Innocent was she,
Innocent was I,
Too simple we!
Before us we did not see,
Nearing, aught wry -
Aught wry!

I can tell it not now,
It was long ago;
And such things cow;
But that is why and how
Two lives were so -
Were so.

Yes, the years matured,
And the blows were three
That time ensured
On her, which she dumbly endured;
And one on me -
One on me.





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