Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON THE PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN ABOUT TO BE HANGED, by THOMAS HARDY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON THE PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN ABOUT TO BE HANGED, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Comely and capable one of our race
Last Line: Brought to derision!
Subject(s): Capital Punishment; Hanging; Executions; Death Penalty


COMELY and capable one of our race,
Posing there in your gown of grace,
Plain, yet becoming;
Could subtlest breast
Ever have guessed
What was behind that innocent face,
Drumming, drumming!

Would that your Causer, ere knoll your knell
For this riot of passion, might deign to tell
Why, since It made you
Sound in the germ,
It sent a worm
To madden Its handiwork, when It might well
Not have assayed you,
Not have implanted, to your deep rue,
The Clytaemnestra spirit in you,
And with purblind vision
Sowed a tare
In a field so fair,
And a thing of symmetry, seemly to view,
Brought to derision!





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