Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Afterwards" is a poem by Thomas Hardy, first published in 1917. The poem reflects on the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time, and explores the idea of an afterlife and the possibility of spiritual connection after death.

The poem is structured as a series of six stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the speaker's experience. In the first stanza, the speaker reflects on a memory of a past event, suggesting that the memory is vivid and intense, even though the event itself has long since passed.

In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on the passage of time, and suggests that the memories of the past are like ghosts that linger on long after the events themselves have passed.

In the third stanza, the speaker reflects on the inevitability of death, and suggests that the memories of the past may be a source of comfort and solace in the face of mortality.

In the fourth stanza, the speaker imagines a conversation with someone who has died, and suggests that there may be a spiritual connection that transcends death.

In the final stanzas, the speaker reflects on the idea of an afterlife, and suggests that there may be a spiritual realm where the souls of the dead continue to exist and connect with the living.

Overall, "Afterwards" is a powerful and moving poem that reflects on the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. Through his use of vivid language and imagery, Hardy creates a sense of the haunting and persistent nature of memory, and offers a poignant meditation on the enduring power of love and the possibility of spiritual connection after death.

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