Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, HER DILEMMA; IN CHURCH, by THOMAS HARDY


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HER DILEMMA; IN CHURCH, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The two were silent in a sunless church
Last Line: Where nature such dilemmas could devise.
Subject(s): Death; Kindness; Dead, The


THE two were silent in a sunless church,
Whose mildewed walls, uneven paving-stones,
And wasted carvings passed antique research;
And nothing broke the clock's dull monotones.

Leaning against a wormy poppy-head,
So wan and worn that he could scarcely stand,
-- For he was soon to die, -- he softly said,
"Tell me you love me!" -- holding hard her hand.

She would have given a world to breathe "yes" truly,
So much his life seemed hanging on her mind,
And hence she lied, her heart persuaded throughly,
'Twas worth her soul to be a moment kind.

But the sad need thereof, his nearing death,
So mocked humanity that she shamed to prize
A world conditioned thus, or care for breath
Where Nature such dilemmas could devise.






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