Wives in the Sere

By Thomas Hardy

6/2/1840-1/11/1928


I

Never a careworn wife but shows,
         If a joy suffuse her,
Something beautiful to those
         Patient to peruse her,
Some one charm the world unknows
         Precious to a muser,
Haply what, ere years were foes,
         Moved her mate to choose her.

II

But, be it a hint of rose
         That an instant hues her,
Or some early light or pose
         Wherewith thought renews her -
Seen by him at full, ere woes
         Practised to abuse her -
Sparely comes it, swiftly goes,
         Time again subdues her.

DayPoems Poem No. 1052
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/1052.html">Wives in the Sere by Thomas Hardy</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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