Poetry Explorer


Classic and Contemporary Poetry


WITHOUT, NOT WITHIN HER by THOMAS HARDY

Poet Analysis

First Line: IT WAS WHAT YOU BORE WITH YOU, WOMAN
Last Line: OF THE WINNOWING-FAN.

IT was what you bore with you, Woman,
Not inly were,
That throned you from all else human,
However fair!

It was that strange freshness you carried
Into a soul
Whereon no thought of yours tarried
Two moments at all.

And out from his spirit flew death,
And bale, and ban,
Like the corn-chaff under the breath
Of the winnowing-fan.



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