LONGPLIGHTED
Isitworthwhile，dear，now，Tocallforbells，andsallyfortharrayedFormarriage—rites—discussed，decried，delayedSomanyyears？
Isitworthwhile，dear，now，Tostirdesireforoldfondpurposings，ByfeintsthatTimestillservesfordallyings，Thoughquittancenears？
Isitworthwhile，dear，whenThedaybeingsofarspent，solowthesun，Theundonethingwillsoonbeasthedone，Andsmilesastears？
Isitworthwhile，dear，whenOurcheeksareworn，ourearlybrownisgray;
When，meetorpartwe，nonesaysyeaornay，Orheeds，orcares？
Isitworthwhile，dear，sinceWestillcanclimboldYell\'ham\'swoodedmoundsTogether，aseachseasonstealsitsroundsAnddisappears？
Isitworthwhile，dear，sinceAsmatesinMellstockchurchyardwecanlie，TillthelastcrashofallthingslowandhighShallendthespheres？
THEWIDOW
ByMellstockLodgeandAvenueTowardsherdoorIwent，Andsunsetonherwindow—panesReflectedourintent。
ThecreeperonthegablenighWasfiredtomorethanredAndwhenIcametohaltthereby\"Brightasmyjoy！\"Isaid。
OflatedaysithadbeenheraimTomeetmeinthehall;
Nowatmyfootstepsnoonecame;
Andnoonetomycall。
AgainIknocked;andtardilyAninnerstepwasheard，AndIwasshownherpresencethenWithscarceanansweringword。
Shemetme，andbutbarelytookMyprofferedwarmembrace;
Preoccupationweighedherlook，Andhardenedhersweetface。
\"To—morrow—couldyou—wouldyoucall？
Makebriefyourpresentstay？
Mychildisill—myone，myall！
Andcan\'tbeleftto—day。\"
Andthensheturns，andgivescommandsAsIwereoutofsound，OrwerenomoretoherandhersThananyneighbourround
—AsmaidIwooedher;butonecameAndcoaxedherheartaway，AndwhenintimeheweddedherIdeemedhergoneforaye。
Hewon，Ilosther;andmylossIboreIknownothow;
ButIdothinkIsufferedthenLesswretchednessthannow。
ForTime，intakinghim，hadopedAnunexpecteddoorOfblissforme，whichgrewtoseemFarsurerthanbefore
Herwordissteadfast，andIknowThatplightedfirmarewe:
Butshehascaughtnewlove—callssinceShesmiledasmaidonme！
ATAHASTYWEDDING
（TRIOLET）
Ifhoursbeyearsthetwainareblest，FornowtheysolaceswiftdesireBybondsofeverybondthebest，Ifhoursbeyears。ThetwainareblestDoeasternstarsslopeneverwest，Norpallidashesfollowfire:
Ifhoursbeyearsthetwainareblest，Fornowtheysolaceswiftdesire。
THEDREAM—FOLLOWER
AdreamofmineflewoverthemeadTothehallswheremyoldLovereigns;
Anditdrewmeontofollowitslead:
AndIstoodatherwindow—panes;
AndIsawbutathingoffleshandboneSpeedingontoitscleftintheclay;
Andmydreamwasscared，andexpiredonamoan，AndIwhitelyhastenedaway。
HISIMMORTALITY
I
Isawadeadman\'sfinerpartShiningwithineachfaithfulheartOfthosebereft。ThensaidI:\"ThismustbeHisimmortality。\"
II
Ilookedthereastheseasonswore，AndstillhissoulcontinuouslyupboreItslifeintheirs。ButlessitsshineexcelledThanwhenIfirstbeheld。
III
Hisfellow—yearsmenpassed，andthenInlaterheartsIlookedforhimagain;
Andfoundhim—shrunk，alas！intoathinAndspectralmannikin。
IV
LastlyIask—nowoldandchill
Ifaughtofhimremainunperishedstill;
Andfind，inmealone，afeeblespark，Dyingamidthedark。
February1899。
THETO—BE—FORGOTTEN
I
Iheardasmallsadsound，Andstoodawhileamidthetombsaround:
\"Wherefore，oldfriends，\"saidI，\"areyedistrest，Now，screenedfromlife\'sunrest？\"
II
—\"Onotatbeinghere;
Butthatourfutureseconddeathisdrear;
When，withtheliving，memoryofusnumbs，Andblankoblivioncomes！
III
\"ThosewhoourgrandsiresbeLiehereembracedbydeeperdeaththanwe;
NorshapenorthoughtoftheirscanstthoudescryWithkeenestbackwardeye。
IV
\"Theybideasquiteforgot;
Theyareasmenwhohaveexistednot;
Theirsisalosspastlossoffitfulbreath;
Itistheseconddeath。
V
\"Wehere，asyet，eachdayAreblestwithdearrecall;asyet，alwayInsomesoulholdalovedcontinuanceOfshapeandvoiceandglance。
VI
\"Butwhathasbeenwillbe
Firstmemory，thenoblivion\'sturbidsea;
Likemenforegone，shallwemergeintothoseWhosestorynooneknows。
VII
\"ForwhichofuscouldhopeToshowinlifethatworld—awakeningscopeGrantedthefewwhosememorynoneletsdie，Butallmenmagnify？
VIII
\"WewerebutFortune\'ssport;
Thingstrue，thingslovely，thingsofgoodreportWeneithershunnednorsoughtWeseeourbourne，Andseeingitwemourn。\"
WIVESINTHESERE
I
Neveracarewornwifebutshows，Ifajoysuffuseher，SomethingbeautifultothosePatienttoperuseher，SomeonecharmtheworldunknowsPrecioustoamuser，Haplywhat，ereyearswerefoes，Movedhermatetochooseher。
II
But，beitahintofroseThataninstanthuesher，OrsomeearlylightorposeWherewiththoughtrenewsher
Seenbyhimatfull，erewoesPractisedtoabuseher
Sparelycomesit，swiftlygoes，Timeagainsubduesher。
THESUPERSEDED
I
Asnewercomerscrowdthefore，Wedropbehind。
—WewhohavelabouredlongandsoreTimesoutofmind，Andkeenareyet，mustnotregretTodropbehind。
II
YetthereareofussomewhogrieveTogobehind;
Staunch，strenuoussoulswhoscarcebelieveTheirfiresdeclined，Andknownonecares，remembers，sparesWhogobehind。
III
\'TisnotthatwehaveunforetoldThedropbehind;
WefeelthenewmustousttheoldIneverykind;
Butyetwethink，mustwe，mustWE，Too，dropbehind？
ANAUGUSTMIDNIGHT
I
Ashadedlampandawavingblind，Andthebeatofaclockfromadistantfloor:
Onthissceneenter—winged，horned，andspined
Alonglegs，amoth，andadumbledore;
While\'midmypagethereidlystandsAsleepyfly，thatrubsitshands
II
Thusmeetwefive，inthisstillplace，Atthispointoftime，atthispointinspace。
—Myguestsparademynew—pennedink，Orbangatthelamp—glass，whirl，andsink。
\"God\'shumblest，they！\"Imuse。Yetwhy？
TheyknowEarth—secretsthatknownotI。
MAXGATE，1899。
THECAGEDTHRUSHFREEDANDHOMEAGAIN
（VILLANELLE）
\"Menknowbutlittlemorethanwe，Whocountusleastofthingsterrene，Howhappydaysaremadetobe！
\"Ofsuchstrangetidingswhatthinkye，Obirdsinbrownthatpeckandpreen？
Menknowbutlittlemorethanwe！
\"WhenIwasbornefromyondertreeInbondstothem，IhopedtogleanHowhappydaysaremadetobe，\"Andwantandwailingturnedtoglee;
Alas，despitetheirmightymienMenknowbutlittlemorethanwe！
\"TheycannotchangetheFrost\'sdecree，Theycannotkeeptheskiesserene;
Howhappydaysaremadetobe\"EludesgreatMan\'ssagacityNolessthanours，Otribesintreen！
MenknowbutlittlemorethanweHowhappydaysaremadetobe。\"
BIRDSATWINTERNIGHTFALL
（TRIOLET）