Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SATIRES OF CIRCUMSTANCE: 8. IN THE STUDY, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: He enters, and mute on the edge of a chair Last Line: No household skeleton at all. Subject(s): Books; Reading | ||||||||
HE enters, and mute on the edge of a chair Sits a thin-faced lady, a stranger there, A type of decayed gentility; And by some small signs he well can guess That she comes to him almost breakfastless. 'I have called - I hope I do not err - I am looking for a purchaser Of some score volumes of the works Of eminent divines I own, - Left by my father - though it irks My patience to offer them.' And she smiles As if necessity were unknown; 'But the truth of it is that oftenwhiles I have wished, as I am fond of art, To make my rooms a little smart, And these old books are so in the way.' And lightly still she laughs to him, As if to sell were a mere gay whim, And that, to be frank, Life were indeed To her not vinegar and gall, But fresh and honey-like; and Need No household skeleton at all. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TWO SONNETS: 1 by DAVID LEHMAN THE ILLUSTRATION?ÇÖA FOOTNOTE by DENISE LEVERTOV FALLING ASLEEP OVER THE AENEID by ROBERT LOWELL POETRY MACHINES by CATE MARVIN LENDING LIBRARY by PHYLLIS MCGINLEY AND THERE WAS A GREAT CALM' by THOMAS HARDY |
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