Poem by Thomas Hardy

On the Portrait of a Woman about to be Hanged

Comely and capable one of our race,
Posing there in your gown of grace,
Plain, yet becoming;
Could subtlest breast
Ever have guessed
What was behind that innocent face,
Drumming, drumming!

Would that your Causer, ere knoll your knell
For this riot of passion, might deign to tell
Why, since It made you
Sound in the germ,
It sent a worm
To madden Its handiwork, when It might well
Not have assayed you,

Not have implanted, to your deep rue,
The Clytaemnestra spirit in you,
And with purblind vision
Sowed a tare
In a field so fair,
And a thing of symmetry, seemly to view,
Brought to derision!

1. On the Tune Called the Old-Hundred-and-Fourth
2. O I Won’t Lead a Homely Life
3. The Country Wedding
4. The Turnip-Hoer
5. Genitrix Laesa

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