Between us now and here -
Two thrown together
Who are not wont to wear
Life's flushest feather -
Who see the scenes slide past,
The daytimes dimming fast,
Let there be truth at last,
Even if despair.
So thoroughly and long
Have you now known me,
So real in faith and strong
Have I now shown me,
That nothing needs disguise
Further in any wise,
Or asks or justifies
A guarded tongue.
Face unto face, then, say,
Eyes mine own meeting,
Is your heart far away,
Or with mine beating?
When false things are brought low,
And swift things have grown slow,
Feigning like froth shall go,
Faith be for aye.
Thomas Hardy's prose shows his familiarity with the depth of despair, and the reasons for it. This poem shows his willingness to hope. I like him better knowing that he wrote such poetry.
Love is what he is missing in the spoken word from his fair damsel
few understand the frailties of humankind so plainly nor forgive them so elegantly as thomas hardy. i love this guy.
Very beautiful and heart felt! ... Definite 5 Stars! .. And Congratulations on poem of the day! ..
Beautiful poem. Thomas Hardy brings so much of emotion through his faith in nature and people.
Congratulations being chosen again as The Classic Poem Of The Day.5 Stars for this worldwide famous poet!
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Others, like myself, who are not familiar with British dialect may not have understood the last line of this poem. The OED, however, gives the clue which is that aye also spelt as ay but rhyming with may or say means ever. So, in this line FAITH BE FOR AYE means FAITH BE FOR EVER.