Thomas Hardy (1840–1928). Wessex Poems and Other Verses. 1898.
36. To Outer Nature
S
When I early sought thee,
Omen-scouting,
All undoubting
Love alone had wrought thee—
Planned thee as a measure
For expounding
And resounding
Glad things that men treasure.
Of that old endowment—
Light to gaily
See thy daily
Irisèd embowment!
Time forbids with scorning—
Makes me see things
Cease to be things
They were in my morning.
Darkness-overtaken!
Thy first sweetness,
Radiance, meetness,
None shall reawaken.
Thou and I? Our vernal
Brightness keeping,
Time outleaping;
Passed the hodiernal!