In Time Of "The Breaking Of Nations"

Portrait of Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy 1840–1928

I Only a man harrowing clods In a slow silent walk With an old horse that stumbles and nods Half asleep as they stalk.

II Only thin smoke without flame From the heaps of couch-grass; Yet this will go onwards the same Though Dynasties pass.

III Yonder a maid and her wight Go whispering by: War's annals will cloud into night Ere their story die.

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