Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CLOCK OF THE YEARS, by THOMAS HARDY Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: And the spirit said Last Line: To mar the ordained.' | ||||||||
'A spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.' AND the Spirit said, 'I can make the clock of the years go backward, But am loth to stop it where you will.' And I cried, 'Agreed To that. Proceed: It's better than dead!' He answered, 'Peace;' And called her up - as last before me; Then younger, younger she freshed, to the year I first had known Her woman-grown, And I cried, 'Cease! - 'Thus far is good - It is enough - let her stay thus always!' But alas for me - He shook his head: No stop was there; And she waned child-fair, And to babyhood. Still less in mien To my great sorrow became she slowly, And smalled till she was nought at all In his checkless griff; And it was as if She had never been. 'Better,' I plained, 'She were dead as before! The memory of her Had lived in me; but it cannot now!' And coldly his voice: 'It was your choice To mar the ordained.' | 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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