Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE PROBLEM, by THOMAS HARDY


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE PROBLEM, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Shall we conceal the case, or tell it
Last Line: Humanity's joy and pain.


SHALL we conceal the Case, or tell it -
We who believe the evidence?
Here and there the watch-towers knell it
With a sullen significance,
Heard of the few who hearken intently and carry an eagerly
upstrained sense.

Hearts that are happiest hold not by it;
Better we let, then, the old view reign:
Since there is peace in that, why decry it?
Since there is comfort, why disdain?
Note not the pigment so long as the painting determines
humanity's joy and pain.





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