By Henstridge Cross at the Year's End
The narrative unfolds at a centuries-old crossroad, symbolizing choices and the passage of time. The speaker reflects on the various roads leading to different destinations, each associated with memories and emotions. The east road evokes sorrow from a past journey, the north road recalls the legacy of ancestors, the west road is tied to a beloved who has passed, and the south road signifies lost love and regret. The speaker questions the purpose of traveling any road, suggesting a sense of stagnation and contemplation. The imagery of the handpost and the stones personifies the crossroads, emphasizing the weight of decision-making and the desire for new experiences. The stones express a yearning for vitality and connection, contrasting with the somber reflections of the traveler. Ultimately, the work explores themes of memory, loss, and the human condition, inviting readers to ponder their own paths and the significance of their choices at life's crossroads.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1928 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Romanticism · 337 words
First lines
(From this centuries-old cross-road the highway leads east to London, north to Bristol and Bath, west to Exeter and the Land's End, and south to the Channel coast.)
WHY go the east road now? . That way a youth went on a morrow After mirth, and he brought back sorrow Painted upon his brow Why go the east road now?
What this Textopian page supports
By Henstridge Cross at the Year's End is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1928 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: 1928 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Romanticism, Philosophical Literature, Historical Fiction
- Length: 337 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, employing rhythmic and lyrical language typical of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The themes explore deep emotional and philosophical questions, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Romanticism — The text reflects romantic themes of nature, emotion, and individual experience.
- Philosophical Literature — The questioning of roads and choices suggests a philosophical exploration of life and direction.
Tags
rural · England · 19th century · drama · romance · tragedy · social issues · class struggle · nature · human relationships · isolation · fate