A Meeting With Despair Poem by Thomas Hardy

A Meeting With Despair

Rating: 2.9


AS evening shaped I found me on a moor
Which sight could scarce sustain:
The black lean land, of featureless contour,
Was like a tract in pain.

"This scene, like my own life," I said, "is one
Where many glooms abide;
Toned by its fortune to a deadly dun--
Lightless on every side.

I glanced aloft and halted, pleasure-caught
To see the contrast there:
The ray-lit clouds gleamed glory; and I thought,
"There's solace everywhere!"

Then bitter self-reproaches as I stood
I dealt me silently
As one perverse--misrepresenting Good
In graceless mutiny.

Against the horizon's dim-descernèd wheel
A form rose, strange of mould:
That he was hideous, hopeless, I could feel
Rather than could behold.

"'Tis a dead spot, where even the light lies spent
To darkness!" croaked the Thing.
"Not if you look aloft!" said I, intent
On my new reasoning.

"Yea--but await awhile!" he cried. "Ho-ho!--
Look now aloft and see!"
I looked. There, too, sat night: Heaven's radiant show
Had gone. Then chuckled he.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Molaire Jules 05 July 2007

A classic poet

2 0 Reply

Pretty gloomy, not Hardy's greatest effort, has produced much fragrant pieces.

1 1 Reply
Manonton Dalan 05 July 2010

dull moment glimmer of hope soon darkness also absorb why happiness last in seconds to make us strive more...guess

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Joseph Poewhit 05 July 2010

Despair, is the right word. Going from a dark form, into the black abyss of infinity.

0 0 Reply

Really awesome piece of work... I recommend to read all the works by Thomas Hardy to be read will the same passion that we show for William Shakesphere and William Wordsworth and any other poet of the Classics, then only we will be able to know the real depth of the thought of this poet.

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Sylvia Frances Chan 18 June 2024

The raw emotions of despair are conveyed through direct and unsentimental language, capturing the nihilistic mood of the late Victorian era.

0 0 Reply
Sylvia Frances Chan 18 June 2024

This poem explores themes of hopelessness, suffering, and existential uncertainty. The poem compares the barren landscape to a desolate life, reflecting the author's pessimistic view of existence.

0 0 Reply

A beautiful poem and despair seems to be the theme.

1 1 Reply
Douglas Scotney 05 July 2013

Total dead spot. Not there. There. Get outa there.

2 0 Reply
Paul Brookes 05 July 2012

Chillingly eerie and atmospheric. Great description of despair and hopelessness. Yet is there redemption and hope? This the poet leaves us to decide.

2 0 Reply
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Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy

Dorchester / England
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