Queer are the ways of a man I know:
He comes and stands
In a careworn craze,
And looks at the sands
In the seaward haze
With moveless hands
And face and gaze,
Then turns to go…
And what does he see when he gazes so?
They say he sees as an instant thing
More clear than today,
A sweet soft scene
That once was in play
By that briny green;
Yes, notes alway
Warm, real, and keen,
What his back years bring-
A phantom of his own figuring.
Of this vision of his they might say more:
Not only there
Does he see this sight,
But everywhere
In his brain-day, night,
As if on the air
It were drawn rose bright-
Yea, far from that shore
Does he carry this vision of heretofore:
A ghost-girl-rider. And though, toil-tried,
He withers daily,
Time touches her not,
But she still rides gaily
In his rapt thought
On that shagged and shaly
Atlantic spot,
And as when first eyed
Draws rein and sings to the swing of the tide.
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Another Version of the Same
From guest Robert Adams (contact)
If you like this poem--who couldn't?--listen to Gerald Finzi's version in his collection of songs "Earth and Air and Rain." Finzi set a number of Hardy poems to music for baritone voice and piano and this one is particularly beautiful. His use of rhythm to capture the "swing of the tide" throughout is amazing! -
Typo
From guest Aaron Poochigian (contact)
No "and" in line 5. This is one of the greatest poems ever written. -
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thanks for letting us know about the typo Aaron Poochigian. It is now corrected, it's with the help of people like you who inform us of errors that we are able to continue with the high standard of Oldpoetry - thank you.
Vonnie
Oldpoetry
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I like this but I think you mean as if in the air
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ah, hardy. brilliant. but, though: 'Yes, notes alway', is that a typo? or not?
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I really like this piece, well written and keep writing
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Great poem by probably my favourite English poet!
Hardy always succeeds in touchig me with a kind of human sublimeness (if that is a word at all, but you know what I mean).
I love:
"He withers daily,
Time touches her not,
But she still rides gaily
In his rapt thought
On that shagged and shaly
Atlantic spot,
And as when first eyed"
I have made my pilgrimages to Dorset quite often and the landscape just invites these spectral yearnings.
Hardy was the 'mentor' of that other great writer from Dorset that I love (and who is still hugely underrated, I believe!!!), John Cowper Powys...you should feature some of his poetry as well! he deserves to be read more!
Thanks for posting this! One can never read too much Hardy!
Cheers! -
I love this...thanks for sharing.
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Wow this poem was great. I is a very very awesome write I loved it keep up the wicked work and I hope to see more soon
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DoubleD,
Written just after his wife's death (Emma), the phantom horse woman is believe to be her, even after her death, she still appears everywhere he looks. Emma in Some Recollections, she reminisces about “scampering up and down the hills on her mare". An image that seemed to haunt Hardy afterwards.
Andrew
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Very neat. I think there was (definately) more to this than a phantom rider. I may have to read it again to figure it out but this is how I like my literature. I like to be able to think about it.
Excellent job!
Paige -
wow. The imagery is excellent! Your diction was very carefully chosen, and helped to add a great deal to the overall picture that you were trying to put together. The rhyme scheme was also instrumental in keeping the poem flowing, as mild as it is. A very mature and high level read. Thanks for sharing!
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Very cool poem.
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this is good, i dont think i've read any of his stuff b4 but i agree i'm gonna look in2 him now! thanks for sharing
sparx -
Oh I had never read anything by this poet but I'll definatly pick up a book or search for some on the Internet! Thanks!
By and By
Evy -
Written just after his wife's death (Emma), the phantom horse woman is believe to be her, even after her death, she still appears everywhere he looks. Emma in Some Recollections, where she reminisces about “scampering up and down the hills” on her mare. An image that seemed to remain with Hardy.
AndrewHide -
I have never read anything from Thomas Hardy either before,but this poem is pretty good.Is the horsewoman his memory or image out of his deep longing.Thanks for sharing.
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Thanx for sharing this work with the AllPoetry community!
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I work a few doors from Hardye's birthplace and all his works are there, beat that! lol
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Also I have never read this poem. But I do find it interesting. So many lines that could stem off in another direction.
Thank you most kindly for sharing.
BonBon -
I have not read him at all, but found this to be very interesting. I think I would like to go back and read more.
And what does he see when he gazes so?
you often wonder that? good line.
Cheryl
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I know that Hardy really thought his poetry was the best thing he ever did. I had not read him all that much, but I really liked this poem. I had read some of his books and wished to heaven that I have never read Jude, the Obscene because of the story. Maybe, this poem read over several times might leave me with a more pleasant sense of his work. Thank you....
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This is my favourite of all the Hardy poems.
So strong is the passion in the loss of one so close, so intense the memories that they take over all his thoughts and visions.
Could anyone but Hardy write with such haunting, yet loving images?
Andrew
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