Going and Staying by Thomas Hardy
The work explores the tension between the transient beauty of life and the persistent nature of suffering and decay. It contrasts moments of joy and vitality, represented by nature's splendor, with the inevitable presence of sorrow and stagnation. The speaker reflects on the desire for delightful experiences to endure while simultaneously wishing for the burdens of existence to vanish. As the narrative unfolds, there is a deeper contemplation of time itself, depicted as a force that both preserves and erodes. The imagery of seasons and natural elements serves to illustrate the cyclical nature of life, where joy and pain coexist. The speaker's realization of time's dual role leads to an acceptance of life's complexities, acknowledging that both the beautiful and the painful are integral to the human experience. Ultimately, the work presents a philosophical meditation on the impermanence of happiness and the persistence of hardship, suggesting that understanding this duality is essential for navigating existence. The interplay of light and dark, joy and sorrow, encapsulates the essence of life’s journey, emphasizing the inevitability of change and the acceptance of both the fleeting and the enduring aspects of reality.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1913 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Philosophical · 144 words
First lines
I. THE moving sun-shapes on the spray, / The sparkles where the brook was flowing, / Pink faces, plightings, moonlit May, / These were the things we wished would stay; / But they were going.
II. Seasons of blankness as of snow, / The silent bleed of a world decaying, / The moan of multitudes in woe, / These were the things we wished would go; / But they were staying.
III. Then we looked closelier at Time, / And saw his ghostly arms revolving / To sweep off woeful things with prime, / Things sinister with things sublime / Alike dissolving.
What this Textopian page supports
Going and Staying is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1913 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: 1913 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Philosophical, Nature, Romanticism
- Length: 144 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Going and Staying by Thomas Hardy
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Similar titles
- I Worked No Wile To Meet You by Thomas Hardy
- The Wanderer by Thomas Hardy
- To Meet Or Otherwise by Thomas Hardy
- At Castle Boterel by Thomas Hardy
- The Dawn After The Dance by Thomas Hardy
- The Voice by Thomas Hardy
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, employing rhythm and imagery typical of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections on time and existence.
- Philosophical — The themes explore deep questions about time, existence, and the nature of change.
- Nature — Imagery of nature is prevalent, reflecting on the beauty and transience of the natural world.
Tags
love · loss · nature · human experience · relationships · conflict · identity · change · time · memory · rural life · social class