Thomas Hardy (Томас Гарди (Харди))

Before Life and After

A time there was – as one may guess
And as, indeed, earth’s testimonies tell –
Before the birth of consciousness,
When all went well.

None suffered sickness, love, or loss,
None knew regret, starved hope, or heart-burnings;
None cared whatever crash or cross
Brought wrack to things.

If something ceased, no tongue bewailed,
If something winced and waned, no heart was wrung;
If brightness dimmed, and dark prevailed,
No sense was stung.

But the disease of feeling germed,
And primal rightness took the tinct of wrong;
Ere nescience shall be reaffirmed
How long, how long?

1. If You Had Known
2. When Oats Were Reaped
3. The Seven Times
4. The Dead Bastard
5. The Dance at the Phœnix

Распечатать (To print)

Количество обращений к стихотворению: 1994

Последние стихотворения

To English version