A Gentleman's Epitaph on himself and a Lady, who
The poem reflects on the lives of two individuals, a gentleman and a lady, who lived in separate worlds yet share a final resting place. The gentleman describes his existence in a city, surrounded by people who may be charming but never truly connected with him. In contrast, the lady resides by the sea, enjoying a vibrant life among lively companions. Throughout their lives, they never encountered each other, missing opportunities for romance and connection. The gentleman speculates about the lady's physical attributes—her eyes, lips, and overall beauty—yet admits he knows nothing of her personally. Their lives are marked by a profound absence of love or interaction, with no shared experiences or emotional exchanges. Despite this lack of connection during their lifetimes, the poem concludes with a sense of unity in death. The two are now bound together as "one dust," suggesting that their souls are intertwined in a way that transcends their previous separateness. The final lines evoke a sense of companionship in their eternal rest, highlighting the irony of their relationship: they were strangers in life but are now united in death. The work explores themes of isolation, unfulfilled potential, and the nature of companionship, ultimately suggesting that even the most distant lives can find a shared fate.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy · 255 words
First lines
I DWELT in the shade of a city, / She far by the sea, / With folk perhaps good, gracious, witty; / But never with me.
Her form on the ballroom's smooth flooring / I never once met, / To guide her with accents adoring / Through Weippert's "First Set."
I spent my life's seasons with pale ones / In Vanity Fair, / And she enjoyed hers among hale ones / In salt-smelling air.
Maybe she had eyes of deep colour, / Maybe they were blue, / Maybe as she aged they got duller; / That never I knew.
What this Textopian page supports
A Gentleman's Epitaph on himself and a Lady, who were Buried Together is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Elegy, Lyric, Victorian Literature
- Length: 255 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Gentleman's Epitaph on himself and a Lady, who were Buried Together by Thomas Hardy
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Similar titles
- Sacred To The Memory by Thomas Hardy
- The Going by Thomas Hardy
- Epitaph by Thomas Hardy
- Lament by Thomas Hardy
- Rain On A Grave by Thomas Hardy
- The Last Time by Thomas Hardy
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
- Romanticism — Themes of unfulfilled love and idealization of a distant lady reflect Romantic ideals.
- Elegy — The poem serves as a reflection on mortality and the relationship between the speaker and the lady.
- Lyric — The personal expression of feelings and thoughts aligns with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
Tags
epitaph · gentleman · lady · burial · love · death · romance · poetry · reflection · mortality · togetherness · loss