Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE MAN WITH A PAST by THOMAS HARDY

Poet Analysis

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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