 | Collected poems of Thomas Hardy |  |
TRAGEDIAN TO TRAGEDIENNE
Shall I leave you behind me
When I play
In earnest what we've played in mock to-day?
When I play
In earnest what we've played in mock to-day?
Why, yes; most surely shall I
Leave you behind
In yet full orbit, when my years upwind.
Leave you behind
In yet full orbit, when my years upwind.
I may creep off in the night-time,
And none know
Till comes the morning, bringing news 'tis so.
And none know
Till comes the morning, bringing news 'tis so.
Will you then turn for a moment
White or red,
Recall those spells of ours; things done, things said?
White or red,
Recall those spells of ours; things done, things said?
Aye, those adventurous doings
And those days
Of stress, when I'd the blame and you the praise?
And those days
Of stress, when I'd the blame and you the praise?
Still you will meet adventure—
None knows what—
Still you will go on changing: I shall not.
None knows what—
Still you will go on changing: I shall not.
Still take a call at the mummings
Daily or nightly,
Yielding to custom, calmly, gloomily, brightly.
Daily or nightly,
Yielding to custom, calmly, gloomily, brightly.
Last, you will flag, and finish
Your masquings too:
Yes: end them: I not there to succour you.
Your masquings too:
Yes: end them: I not there to succour you.
| Collected poems of Thomas Hardy | |