Works of Thomas Hardy discussion

"1967"

In five-score summers! All new eyes,
New minds, new modes, new fools, new wise;
New woes to weep, new joys to prize;

With nothing left of me and you
In that live century’s vivid view
Beyond a pinch of dust or two;

A century which, if not sublime,
Will show, I doubt not, at its prime,
A scope above this blinkered time.

Yet what to me how far above?
For I would only ask thereof
That thy worm should be my worm, Love!

This poem was written in 1867 and really has very little to do with the year 1967, other than it being 100 years (a century) in the future.

It was written in 1867 towards the end of the five-year period during which Hardy was living in London and working as an assistant architect. The poem was not published until 1909 when it was included in the “More Love Lyrics” section of his collection entitled “Time’s Laughingstocks and Other Verses”.

The poem is really more about love - like John Donne's famous poem "The Flea" - than it seeks to predict the future. I chose it because I thought it fit well with the turning over of one year into another.

It made me wonder what the world will look like in 2126.

The point that drives home for me in this one is that Hardy knows he will not see that year, just as I know I will not see 2126. And, in truth, it matters not to him what marvels might exist then, because everything he knew or loved will have passed from the earth, even the way of life will have changed with all the "new" innovations. What might remain is his love, even if it is only evident in the sharing of the worm.

The first stanza of the poem repeats the word "new" many times as the poet looks into the future. But even if every century has new inventions, people's emotions are still very much alike.

We want to feel that we have loved and been loved during our life. Billions of people will have lived and died in that century. It's important to him to be sharing the worm with that someone special that he loved.

This was a good choice for the new year, Bridget!

Sara wrote: "The point that drives home for me in this one is that Hardy knows he will not see that year, just as I know I will not see 2126. And, in truth, it matters not to him what marvels might exist then, ..."

I had very similar thoughts, Sara. The poem is so short, and yet so poignant. It made me want to "live now" and maybe gather some rosebuds, before the dust comes for me.

Connie wrote: "The first stanza of the poem repeats the word "new" many times as the poet looks into the future. But even if every century has new inventions, people's emotions are still very much alike.

We want..."

I'm so glad you liked it, Connie. The turning of the year always makes me a bit melancholy - because the passage of time becomes so evident. But this poem reminded me how lucky I am to have so many people in my life to love. As you said, that's really all everyone wants. Nothing is more important than that.

Reading this poem again today, I'm finding some irony in the lines:

With nothing left of me and you
In that live century’s vivid view
Beyond a pinch of dust or two

Here we are, a whole page on Goodreads dedicated to Thomas Hardy. Millions of people the world over still reading his novels and poems. Even Emma Hardy (who Hardy must have been thinking of as he wrote this poem) has achieved some lasting fame - especially with all the poems Hardy wrote after her death.

Their time on earth is gone, but they are not forgotten.

Wonderful thought, Bridget. He has surely lived on, while most of us ordinary folk will be utterly forgotten within two generations. I look at pictures of my great-great grandmother and sometimes wonder what she was like, I have such scraps of her life that were passed to me. Not one person on the face of the earth ever saw her, heard her voice, or felt her touch...all are gone. Genesis 3:19 "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.”

Sara wrote: "Wonderful thought, Bridget. He has surely lived on, while most of us ordinary folk will be utterly forgotten within two generations. I look at pictures of my great-great grandmother and sometimes w..."

Sara, your post reminds me of pictures I have of my great grandmother. She looks like Mrs. Claus, and I've heard stories of her from my mother - but I never met her. Sometimes my mom tells my sons stories about her, and their eyes glaze over because she feels so far away to them.

Thank you for giving us the Genesis quote and siting the passage too, it's so connected to this poem.

Thank you all for sharing your comments. I loved this poem! And I can see just what he means. Its a wonderful start for a new year, but the title does confuse — as you say, Bridget, 1967, really doesn't have anything to add to the sentiments.

Pamela wrote: "Thank you all for sharing your comments. I loved this poem! And I can see just what he means. Its a wonderful start for a new year, but the title does confuse — as you say, Bridget, 1967, really do..."

I'm so glad you liked it Pamela! When I first saw this poem, in a list of Hardy poems, I thought the title was a typo. That was actually what made me look at it in the first place.

You have to think of the title the way you think of 1984 by George Orwell. For Hardy 1967 was far, far in the future...almost unthinkable. For us it is the distant past. When we got to 1984 I remember thinking how strange it was to have reached the year of the book setting and knowing Orwell thought it was far enough in the future to be a different world altogether.

Sara, I've been thinking lately that 1984 was actually a relatively good year, and Orwell should have titled his book "2025." But that's a very good point that the authors have to pick a date in the future, and figure the world will have changed in many ways at that point. I remember that there were lots of newspaper articles about the book "1984" before the start of the year 1984 which might have prompted people to read that great Orwell book.

Sara wrote: "You have to think of the title the way you think of 1984 by George Orwell. For Hardy 1967 was far, far in the future...almost unthinkable. For us it is the distant pas..."

Fabulous comparison, Sara!! I had not thought of Orwell's famous book until you mentioned it.

And, Connie, I agree with you . . . 1984 was a good year for me, personally and certainly much better than 2025.