Thomas Hardy (Томас Гарди (Харди))

A Last Journey

‘Father, you seem to have been sleeping fair?’
The child uncovered the dimity-curtained window-square
And looked out at the dawn,
And back at the dying man nigh gone,
And propped up in his chair,
Whose breathing a robin’s ‘chink’ took up in antiphon.

The open fireplace spread
Like a vast weary yawn above his head,
Its thin blue blower waved against his whitening crown,
For he could not lie down:
He raised him on his arms so emaciated: –

‘Yes; I’ve slept long, my child. But as for rest,
Well, that I cannot say.
The whole night have I footed field and turnpike-way –
A regular pilgrimage – as at my best
And very briskest day!

‘’Twas first to Weatherb’ry, to see them there,
And thence to King’s-Stag, where
I joined in a jolly trip to Weydon-Priors Fair:
I shot for nuts, bought gingerbreads, cream-cheese;
And, not content with these,
I went to London: heard the watchmen cry the hours.

‘I soon was off again, and found me in the bowers
Of father’s apple-trees,
And he shook the apples down: they fell in showers,
Whereon he turned, smiled strange at me, as ill at ease;
And then you pulled the curtain; and, ah me,
I found me back where I wished not to be!’

’Twas told the child next day: ‘Your father’s dead.’
And, struck, she questioned, ‘O,
That journey, then, did father really go? –
Buy nuts, and cakes, and travel at night till dawn was red,
And tire himself with journeying, as he said,
To see those old friends that he cared for so?’

1. Afternoon Service at Mellstock
2. The Supplanter
3. At the Word ‘Farewell’
4. Sitting on the Bridge
5. The Child and the Sage

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