Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


EPITAPH by THOMAS HARDY

Poet Analysis

First Line: I NEVER CARED FOR LIFE: LIFE CARED FOR ME
Last Line: "NOR SOUGHT IN ME MUCH MORE THAN THOU COULDST FIND."
Subject(s): LABOR & LABORERS; LIFE; WORK; WORKERS;

I NEVER cared for Life: Life cared for me,
And hence I owed it some fidelity.
It now says, "Cease; at length thou hast learnt to grind
Sufficient toll for an unwilling mind,
And I dismiss thee -- not without regard
That thou didst ask no ill-advised reward,
Nor sought in me much more than thou couldst find."



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