| Thomas Hardy (1840–1928). Wessex Poems and Other Verses. 1898. |
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| 1. The Temporary the All |
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| CHANGE and chancefulness in my flowering youthtime, | |
| Set me sun by sun near to one unchosen; | |
| Wrought us fellowly, and despite divergence, | |
| Friends interblent us. | |
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| “Cherish him can I while the true one forthcome— | 5 |
| Come the rich fulfiller of my prevision; | |
| Life is roomy yet, and the odds unbounded.” | |
| So self-communed I. | |
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| Thwart my wistful way did a damsel saunter, | |
| Fair not fairest, good not best of her feather; | 10 |
| “Maiden meet,” held I, “till arise my forefelt | |
| Wonder of women.” | |
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| Long a visioned hermitage deep desiring, | |
| Tenements uncouth I was fain to house in; | |
| “Let such lodging be for a breath-while,” thought I, | 15 |
| “Soon a more seemly. | |
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| “Then, high handiwork will I make my life-deed, | |
| Truth and Light outshow; but the ripe time pending, | |
| Intermissive aim at the thing sufficeth.” | |
| Thus I … But lo, me! | 20 |
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| Mistress, friend, place, aims to be bettered straightway, | |
| Bettered not has Fate or my hand’s achieving; | |
| Sole the showance those of my onward earth-track— | |
| Never transcended! | |
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