Read "During Wind and Rain" by Thomas Hardy online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
THEY sing their dearest songs- / He, she, all of them-yea, / Treble and tenor and bass, / And one to play; / With the candles mooning each face. / Ah, no; the years O! / How the sick leaves reel down in throngs!
They clear the creeping moss- / Elders and juniors-aye, / Making the pathways neat / And the garden gay; / And they build a shady seat. / Ah, no; the years, the years; / See, the white storm-birds wing across!
They are blithely breakfasting all- / Men and maidens-yea, / Under the summer tree, / With a glimpse of the bay, / While pet fowl come to the knee. / Ah, no; the years O! / And the rotten rose is ript from the wall.
They change to a high new house, / He, she, all of them-aye, / Clocks and carpets and chairs / On the lawn all day, / And brightest things that are theirs. / Ah, no; the years, the years; / Down their carved names the rain-drop ploughs.