LONGPLIGHTED
　　Isitworthwhile，dear，now，Tocallforbells，andsallyfortharrayedFormarriage—rites—discussed，decried，delayedSomanyyears？
　　Isitworthwhile，dear，now，Tostirdesireforoldfondpurposings，ByfeintsthatTimestillservesfordallyings，Thoughquittancenears？
　　Isitworthwhile，dear，whenThedaybeingsofarspent，solowthesun，Theundonethingwillsoonbeasthedone，Andsmilesastears？
　　Isitworthwhile，dear，whenOurcheeksareworn，ourearlybrownisgray;
　　When，meetorpartwe，nonesaysyeaornay，Orheeds，orcares？
　　Isitworthwhile，dear，sinceWestillcanclimboldYell'ham'swoodedmoundsTogether，aseachseasonstealsitsroundsAnddisappears？
　　Isitworthwhile，dear，sinceAsmatesinMellstockchurchyardwecanlie，TillthelastcrashofallthingslowandhighShallendthespheres？
　　THEWIDOW
　　ByMellstockLodgeandAvenueTowardsherdoorIwent，Andsunsetonherwindow—panesReflectedourintent。
　　ThecreeperonthegablenighWasfiredtomorethanredAndwhenIcametohaltthereby"Brightasmyjoy！"Isaid。
　　OflatedaysithadbeenheraimTomeetmeinthehall;
　　Nowatmyfootstepsnoonecame;
　　Andnoonetomycall。
　　AgainIknocked;andtardilyAninnerstepwasheard，AndIwasshownherpresencethenWithscarceanansweringword。
　　Shemetme，andbutbarelytookMyprofferedwarmembrace;
　　Preoccupationweighedherlook，Andhardenedhersweetface。
　　"To—morrow—couldyou—wouldyoucall？
　　Makebriefyourpresentstay？
　　Mychildisill—myone，myall！
　　Andcan'tbeleftto—day。"
　　Andthensheturns，andgivescommandsAsIwereoutofsound，OrwerenomoretoherandhersThananyneighbourround
　　—AsmaidIwooedher;butonecameAndcoaxedherheartaway，AndwhenintimeheweddedherIdeemedhergoneforaye。
　　Hewon，Ilosther;andmylossIboreIknownothow;
　　ButIdothinkIsufferedthenLesswretchednessthannow。
　　ForTime，intakinghim，hadopedAnunexpecteddoorOfblissforme，whichgrewtoseemFarsurerthanbefore
　　Herwordissteadfast，andIknowThatplightedfirmarewe:
　　Butshehascaughtnewlove—callssinceShesmiledasmaidonme！
　　ATAHASTYWEDDING
　　（TRIOLET）
　　Ifhoursbeyearsthetwainareblest，FornowtheysolaceswiftdesireBybondsofeverybondthebest，Ifhoursbeyears。ThetwainareblestDoeasternstarsslopeneverwest，Norpallidashesfollowfire:
　　Ifhoursbeyearsthetwainareblest，Fornowtheysolaceswiftdesire。
　　THEDREAM—FOLLOWER
　　AdreamofmineflewoverthemeadTothehallswheremyoldLovereigns;
　　Anditdrewmeontofollowitslead:
　　AndIstoodatherwindow—panes;
　　AndIsawbutathingoffleshandboneSpeedingontoitscleftintheclay;
　　Andmydreamwasscared，andexpiredonamoan，AndIwhitelyhastenedaway。
　　HISIMMORTALITY
　　I
　　Isawadeadman'sfinerpartShiningwithineachfaithfulheartOfthosebereft。ThensaidI:"ThismustbeHisimmortality。"
　　II
　　Ilookedthereastheseasonswore，AndstillhissoulcontinuouslyupboreItslifeintheirs。ButlessitsshineexcelledThanwhenIfirstbeheld。
　　III
　　Hisfellow—yearsmenpassed，andthenInlaterheartsIlookedforhimagain;
　　Andfoundhim—shrunk，alas！intoathinAndspectralmannikin。
　　IV
　　LastlyIask—nowoldandchill
　　Ifaughtofhimremainunperishedstill;
　　Andfind，inmealone，afeeblespark，Dyingamidthedark。
　　February1899。
　　THETO—BE—FORGOTTEN
　　I
　　Iheardasmallsadsound，Andstoodawhileamidthetombsaround:
　　"Wherefore，oldfriends，"saidI，"areyedistrest，Now，screenedfromlife'sunrest？"
　　II
　　—"Onotatbeinghere;
　　Butthatourfutureseconddeathisdrear;
　　When，withtheliving，memoryofusnumbs，Andblankoblivioncomes！
　　III
　　"ThosewhoourgrandsiresbeLiehereembracedbydeeperdeaththanwe;
　　NorshapenorthoughtoftheirscanstthoudescryWithkeenestbackwardeye。
　　IV
　　"Theybideasquiteforgot;
　　Theyareasmenwhohaveexistednot;
　　Theirsisalosspastlossoffitfulbreath;
　　Itistheseconddeath。
　　V
　　"Wehere，asyet，eachdayAreblestwithdearrecall;asyet，alwayInsomesoulholdalovedcontinuanceOfshapeandvoiceandglance。
　　VI
　　"Butwhathasbeenwillbe
　　Firstmemory，thenoblivion'sturbidsea;
　　Likemenforegone，shallwemergeintothoseWhosestorynooneknows。
　　VII
　　"ForwhichofuscouldhopeToshowinlifethatworld—awakeningscopeGrantedthefewwhosememorynoneletsdie，Butallmenmagnify？
　　VIII
　　"WewerebutFortune'ssport;
　　Thingstrue，thingslovely，thingsofgoodreportWeneithershunnednorsoughtWeseeourbourne，Andseeingitwemourn。"
　　WIVESINTHESERE
　　I
　　Neveracarewornwifebutshows，Ifajoysuffuseher，SomethingbeautifultothosePatienttoperuseher，SomeonecharmtheworldunknowsPrecioustoamuser，Haplywhat，ereyearswerefoes，Movedhermatetochooseher。
　　II
　　But，beitahintofroseThataninstanthuesher，OrsomeearlylightorposeWherewiththoughtrenewsher
　　Seenbyhimatfull，erewoesPractisedtoabuseher
　　Sparelycomesit，swiftlygoes，Timeagainsubduesher。
　　THESUPERSEDED
　　I
　　Asnewercomerscrowdthefore，Wedropbehind。
　　—WewhohavelabouredlongandsoreTimesoutofmind，Andkeenareyet，mustnotregretTodropbehind。
　　II
　　YetthereareofussomewhogrieveTogobehind;
　　Staunch，strenuoussoulswhoscarcebelieveTheirfiresdeclined，Andknownonecares，remembers，sparesWhogobehind。
　　III
　　'TisnotthatwehaveunforetoldThedropbehind;
　　WefeelthenewmustousttheoldIneverykind;
　　Butyetwethink，mustwe，mustWE，Too，dropbehind？
　　ANAUGUSTMIDNIGHT
　　I
　　Ashadedlampandawavingblind，Andthebeatofaclockfromadistantfloor:
　　Onthissceneenter—winged，horned，andspined
　　Alonglegs，amoth，andadumbledore;
　　While'midmypagethereidlystandsAsleepyfly，thatrubsitshands
　　II
　　Thusmeetwefive，inthisstillplace，Atthispointoftime，atthispointinspace。
　　—Myguestsparademynew—pennedink，Orbangatthelamp—glass，whirl，andsink。
　　"God'shumblest，they！"Imuse。Yetwhy？
　　TheyknowEarth—secretsthatknownotI。
　　MAXGATE，1899。
　　THECAGEDTHRUSHFREEDANDHOMEAGAIN
　　（VILLANELLE）
　　"Menknowbutlittlemorethanwe，Whocountusleastofthingsterrene，Howhappydaysaremadetobe！
　　"Ofsuchstrangetidingswhatthinkye，Obirdsinbrownthatpeckandpreen？
　　Menknowbutlittlemorethanwe！
　　"WhenIwasbornefromyondertreeInbondstothem，IhopedtogleanHowhappydaysaremadetobe，"Andwantandwailingturnedtoglee;
　　Alas，despitetheirmightymienMenknowbutlittlemorethanwe！
　　"TheycannotchangetheFrost'sdecree，Theycannotkeeptheskiesserene;
　　Howhappydaysaremadetobe"EludesgreatMan'ssagacityNolessthanours，Otribesintreen！
　　MenknowbutlittlemorethanweHowhappydaysaremadetobe。"
　　BIRDSATWINTERNIGHTFALL
　　（TRIOLET）