Explore "Had you Wept" by Thomas Hardy on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
HAD you wept; had you but neared me with a frail uncertain ray, / Dewy as the face of the dawn, in your large and luminous eye, / Then would have come back all the joys the tidings had slain that day, / And a new beginning, a fresh fair heaven, have smoothed the things awry. / But you were less feebly human, and no passionate need for clinging / Possessed your soul to overthrow reserve when I came near; / Ay, though you suffer as much as I from storms the hours are bringing / Upon your heart and mine, I never see you shed a tear.
The deep strong woman is weakest, the weak one is the strong; / The weapon of all weapons best for winning, you have not used; / Have you never been able, or would you not, through the evil times and long? / Has not the gift been given you, or such gift have you refused? / When I bade me not absolve you on that evening or the morrow, / Why did you not make war on me with those who weep like rain? / You felt too much, so gained no balm for all your torrid sorrow, / And hence our deep division, and our dark undying pain.