Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE BACKGROUND AND THE FIGURE by THOMAS HARDY

Poet Analysis

First Line: I THINK OF THE SLOPE WHERE THE RABBITS FED
Last Line: THAT ALSO WILL FLOWER THERE!

(Lover's Ditty)

I THINK of the slope where the rabbits fed,
Of the periwinks' rockwork lair,
Of the fuchsias ringing their bells of red -
And the something else seen there.

Between the blooms where the sod basked bright,
By the bobbing fuchsia trees,
Was another and yet more eyesome sight -
The sight that richened these.

I shall seek those beauties in the spring,
When the days are fit and fair,
But only as foils to the one more thing
That also will flower there!



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