At Waking by Thomas Hardy (1917)

Name: At Waking
Author: Thomas Hardy

The poem explores the theme of disillusionment in love. The speaker experiences a moment of awakening at dawn, where the beauty and charm of their beloved are stripped away, revealing a stark and unremarkable reality. This transformation occurs suddenly, as the speaker perceives their love as merely an ordinary person, devoid of the idealized qualities previously attributed to them. The imagery of cold clouds and the corpse-like pallor emphasizes the bleakness of this realization. The speaker grapples with the emotional turmoil of this insight, feeling a profound sense of loss as the beloved's allure dissipates. The once cherished figure is reduced to a mere representative of the average, lacking the richness of character and presence that had captivated the speaker. This moment of clarity is painful, as it challenges the very foundation of hope and affection that the speaker had built around their love. In an attempt to reject this harsh truth, the speaker covers their eyes, symbolizing a desire to escape the painful revelation. The struggle between reality and illusion is central to the poem, highlighting the fragility of romantic ideals. The final lines express a desperate denial, as the speaker clings to the belief that their love cannot be so hollow and unfulfilling. Overall, the work delves into the complexities of love, the impact of perception, and the inevitable confrontation with reality, leaving the reader to ponder the nature of affection and the often painful process of awakening from romantic illusions.

By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Realism · 254 words

First lines

WHEN night was lifting, And dawn had crept under its shade, Amid cold clouds drifting Dead-white as a corpse outlaid, With a sudden scare I seemed to behold My Love in bare Hard lines unfold.

Yea, in a moment, An insight that would not die Killed her old endowment Of charm that had capped all nigh, Which vanished to none Like the gilt of a cloud, And showed her but one Of the common crowd.

She seemed but a sample Of earth's poor average kind, Lit up by no ample Enrichments of mien or mind. I covered my eyes As to cover the thought, And unrecognize What the morn had taught.

What this Textopian page supports

At Waking is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1917 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Thomas Hardy
Date: 1917 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Realism, Existentialism, Lyric
Length: 254 words
Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is structured in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of love, disillusionment, and perception.
Romanticism — The poem explores deep emotional experiences and the idealization of love, typical of Romantic literature.
Realism — The depiction of the beloved as an ordinary person reflects a realistic approach to human relationships and perceptions.
Existentialism — The poem grapples with themes of identity, disillusionment, and the search for meaning in relationships.