The Going by Thomas Hardy (1917)
The poem explores themes of loss, absence, and the passage of time through the lens of a speaker reflecting on a sudden departure of a loved one. The speaker expresses confusion and sorrow over the lack of farewell, feeling abandoned and left to grapple with the emotional aftermath of the departure. The imagery evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia, as the speaker recalls shared moments and places that now feel hollow without the presence of the beloved. The contrast between the vibrant memories of companionship and the stark reality of solitude highlights the depth of the speaker's grief. As the poem progresses, the speaker grapples with the inevitability of change and the permanence of loss. The realization that time has moved on without the possibility of rekindling the past adds to the sense of despair. The speaker's emotional turmoil is palpable, as they confront the idea that the beloved's absence has irrevocably altered their existence. Ultimately, the work captures the essence of human connection and the profound impact of separation, illustrating how memories can both comfort and torment in the face of irrevocable change. The speaker's reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of relationships and the enduring pain of unfulfilled longing.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 404 words
First lines
WHY did you give no hint that night That quickly after the morrow's dawn, And calmly, as if indifferent quite, You would close your term here, up and be gone Where I could not follow With wing of swallow To gain one glimpse of you ever anon!
Never to bid good-bye, Or give me the softest call, Or utter a wish for a word, while I Saw morning harden upon the wall, Unmoved, unknowing That your great going Had place that moment, and altered all.
What this Textopian page supports
The Going 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, Lyric, Elegy, Victorian Literature
- Length: 404 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of loss and longing through lyrical language and structure.
- Romanticism — The poem reflects romantic themes of love, nature, and emotional depth, characteristic of the Romantic literary movement.
- Lyric — The personal and emotional expression in the poem aligns with the characteristics of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — The poem mourns the loss of a loved one, fitting the conventions of an elegy.
Tags
loss · grief · love · death · nature · human emotion · nostalgia · separation · memory · rural life · existentialism · relationships