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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DEPARTURE by THOMAS HARDY

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHILE THE FAR FAREWELL MUSIC THINS AND FAILS
Last Line: BONDSLAVE TO REALMS, BUT CIRCLE EARTH AND SEAS?'
Subject(s): BOER WAR; SOUTH AFRICAN WAR;
(Southampton Docks: October 1899)

WHILE the far farewell music thins and fails,
And the broad bottoms rip the bearing brine -
All smalling slowly to the gray sea-line -
And each significant red smoke-shaft pales,

Keen sense of severance everywhere prevails,
Which shapes the late long tramp of mounting men
To seeming words that ask and ask again:
'How long, O striving Teutons, Slavs, and Gaels

Must your wroth reasonings trade on lives like these,
That are as puppets in a playing hand? -
When shall the saner softer polities
Whereof we dream, have sway in each proud land
And patriotism, grown Godlike, scorn to stand
Bondslave to realms, but circle earth and seas?'



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