Thomas Hardy

Yell’ham-Wood’s Story

Coomb-Firtrees say that Life is a moan,
And Clyffe-hill Clump says ‘Yea!’
But Yell’ham says a thing of its own:
It’s not ‘Gray, gray
Is Life alway!’
That Yell’ham says,
Nor that Life is for ends unknown.

It says that Life would signify
A thwarted purposing:
That we come to live, and are called to die.
Yes, that’s the thing
In fall, in spring,
That Yell’ham says: –
‘Life offers - to deny!’