Poem by Thomas Hardy

The Chimes Play ‘Life’s a Bumper!’

‘Awake! I’m off to cities far away,’
I said; and rose, on peradventures bent.
The chimes played ‘Life’s a Bumper!’ long that day
To the measure of my walking as I went:
Their sweetness frisked and floated on the lea,
As they played out ‘Life’s a Bumper!’ there to me.

‘Awake!’ I said. ‘I go to take a bride!’
– The sun arose behind me ruby-red
As I journeyed townwards from the countryside,
The chiming bells saluting near ahead.
Their sweetness swelled in tripping tings of glee
As they played out ‘Life’s a Bumper!’ there to me.

‘Again arise.’ I seek a turfy slope,
And go forth slowly on an autumn noon,
And there I lay her who has been my hope,
And think, ‘O may I follow hither soon!’
While on the wind the chimes come cheerily,
Playing out ‘Life’s a Bumper!’ there to me.

1. The End of the Episode
2. The Month’s Calendar
3. The Strange House
4. The Pair He Saw Pass
5. Song to Aurore

Print

1563 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version