Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, BEFORE LIFE AND AFTER, by THOMAS HARDY


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

BEFORE LIFE AND AFTER, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: A time there was - as one may guess
Last Line: How long, how long?


A TIME there was - as one may guess
And as, indeed, earth's testimonies tell -
Before the birth of consciousness,
When all went well.

None suffered sickness, love, or loss,
None knew regret, starved hope, or heart-burnings;
None cared whatever crash or cross
Brought wrack to things.

If something ceased, no tongue bewailed,
If something winced and waned, no heart was wrung;
If brightness dimmed, and dark prevailed,
No sense was stung.

But the disease of feeling germed,
And primal rightness took the tinct of wrong;
Ere nescience shall be reaffirmed
How long, how long?





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