What a wonderful poem. Thank you for digging that up.
[log in to unmask]http://www.fatmandancing.co.ukhttp://www.myspace.com/fat_man_dancing> Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 14:16:44 +1100> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Thomas Hardy: The Darkling Thrush (Dec. 31, 1900)> To: [log in to unmask]> > Thomas Hardy's "The Darkling Thrush" is dated as being composed on the last> evening of the 19th century.> > > The Darkling Thrush> > I leant upon a coppice gate> When Frost was spectre-gray,> And Winter's dregs made desolate> The weakening eye of day.> The tangled bine-stems scored the sky> Like strings of broken lyres,> And all mankind that haunted nigh> Had sought their household fires.> > The land's sharp features seemed to be> The Century's corpse outleant,> His crypt the cloudy canopy,> The wind his death-lament.> The ancient pulse of germ and birth> Was shrunken hard and dry,> And every spirit upon earth> Seemed fervourless as I.> > At once a voice arose among> The bleak twigs overhead> In a full-hearted evensong> Of joy illimited;> An aged thrush, frail, gaunt, and small> In blast-beruffled plume,> Had chosen thus to fling his soul> Upon the growing gloom.> > So little cause for carolings> Of such ecstatic sound> Was written on terrestrial things> Afar or nigh around,> That I could think there trembled through> His happy good-night air> Some blessed Hope, whereof he knew> And I was unaware.> > > Dec. 31, 1900
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