Explore "During Wind and Rain" by Thomas Hardy on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
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.