Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TESS'S LAMENT, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: I would that folk forgot me quite Last Line: And gone all trace of me! | ||||||||
I I WOULD that folk forgot me quite, Forgot me quite! I would that I could shrink from sight, And no more see the sun. Would it were time to say farewell, To claim my nook, to need my knell, Time for them all to stand and tell Of my day's work as done. II Ah! dairy where I lived so long, I lived so long; Where I would rise up staunch and strong, And lie down hopefully. 'Twas there within the chimney-seat He watched me to the clock's slow beat - Loved me, and learnt to call me Sweet, And whispered words to me. III And now he's gone; and now he's gone; ... And now he's gone! The flowers we potted perhaps are thrown To rot upon the farm. And where we had our supper-fire May now grow nettle, dock, and briar, And all the place be mould and mire So cozy once and warm. IV And it was I who did it all, Who did it all; 'Twas I who made the blow to fall On him who thought no guile. Well, it is finished - past, and he Has left me to my misery, And I must take my Cross on me For wronging him awhile. V How gay we looked that day we wed, That day we wed! 'May joy be with ye!' they all said A-standing by the durn. I wonder what they say o'us now, And if they know my lot; and how She feels who milks my favourite cow, And takes my place at churn! VI It wears me out to think of it, To think of it; I cannot bear my fate as writ, I'd have my life unbe; Would turn my memory to a blot, Make every relic of me rot, My doings be as they were not, And gone all trace of me! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...MEN WHO MARCH AWAY' (SONG OF THE SOLDIERS) by THOMAS HARDY A BROKEN APPOINTMENT by THOMAS HARDY A CHRISTMAS GHOST-STORY; CHRISTMAS-EVE 1899 by THOMAS HARDY A THOUGHT IN TWO MOODS by THOMAS HARDY A THUNDERSTORM IN TOWN by THOMAS HARDY A TRAMPWOMAN'S TRAGEDY by THOMAS HARDY A WIFE IN LONDON by THOMAS HARDY ACCORDING TO THE MIGHTY WORKING by THOMAS HARDY |
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