Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE OPPORTUNITY, by THOMAS HARDY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE OPPORTUNITY, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Forty springs back, I recall
Last Line: Its offer; but nought avails it!


FORTY springs back, I recall,
We met at this phase of the Maytime:
We might have clung close through all,
But we parted when died that daytime.

We parted with smallest regret;
Perhaps should have cared but slightly,
Just then, if we never had met:
Strange, strange that we lived so lightly!

Had we mused a little space
At that critical date in the Maytime,
One life had been ours, one place,
Perhaps, till our long cold claytime.

-- This is a bitter thing
For thee, O man: what ails it?
The tide of chance may bring
Its offer; but nought avails it!





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