Looking Across by Thomas Hardy
The poem reflects on themes of loss, memory, and the passage of time. It begins with a sense of darkness and silence, contrasting past joy with the present emptiness. The speaker recalls a significant person, indicated as "One," who is now absent. As the poem progresses, the imagery of nature—bare trees and sighing waterways—symbolizes the passage of time and the inevitability of change, marking the absence of "Two." The tone shifts to a more introspective and melancholic mood as the speaker contemplates the fading vitality of life. The mention of "Three" suggests a growing awareness of loss, with the wind personified as a fragile entity, representing the weight of care and sorrow. The speaker's reflections deepen, acknowledging that life, once vibrant and full of color, has become dry and fleeting, with "Four" indicating further loss. In the final stanza, the speaker expresses fatigue with existence, questioning the absence of "Five," which implies a longing for connection or reunion with those lost. The poem encapsulates a journey through grief, highlighting the emotional weight of remembrance and the stark reality of solitude in the face of time's relentless march.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Philosophical · 204 words
First lines
I. IT is dark in the sky, And silence is where Our laughs rang high; And recall do I That One is out there.
II. The dawn is not nigh, And the trees are bare, And the waterways sigh That a year has drawn by, And Two are out there.
III. The wind drops to die Like the phantom of Care Too frail for a cry, And heart brings to eye That Three are out there.
IV. This Life runs dry That once ran rare And rosy in dye, And fleet the days fly, And Four are out there.
What this Textopian page supports
Looking Across 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, Lyric, Philosophical, Nature, Romanticism
- Length: 204 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Looking Across 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Looking Across?
- How does this poem by Thomas Hardy fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Outside The Window by Thomas Hardy
- The Selfsame Song by Thomas Hardy
- In Front Of The Landscape by Thomas Hardy
- I Now O Friend Whom Noiselessly The Snows by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Imaginings by Thomas Hardy
- Still Life by Frederic Manning
Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verses with a focus on rhythm and imagery, characteristic of poetry.
- Lyric — The emotional expression and personal reflection on life and existence align with the lyric genre.
- Philosophical — The themes of existence, life, and introspection suggest a philosophical exploration.
- Nature — The references to natural elements like trees and waterways indicate a connection to nature.
Tags
nature · landscape · reflection · philosophy · human experience · existentialism · solitude · introspection · time · memory · transience · beauty