Published in the 1917 collection Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses, "Afterwards" is one of Hardy's most popular and widely anthologized poems. Wondering how people might remember him when he's gone, the poem's speaker hopes that they will recall his careful observations of nature's "mysteries." The poem suggests that "notic[ing]" and delighting in nature is a meaningful way to spend one's life. For those about to leave the world, moreover, there may be comfort in knowing one's love of the world will live on in others' memories.
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1When the Present has latched its postern behind my tremulous stay,
2And the May month flaps its glad green leaves like wings,
3Delicate-filmed as new-spun silk, will the neighbours say,
4"He was a man who used to notice such things"?
5If it be in the dusk when, like an eyelid's soundless blink,
6The dewfall-hawk comes crossing the shades to alight
7Upon the wind-warped upland thorn, a gazer may think,
8"To him this must have been a familiar sight."
9If I pass during some nocturnal blackness, mothy and warm,
10When the hedgehog travels furtively over the lawn,
11One may say, "He strove that such innocent creatures should come to no harm,
12But he could do little for them; and now he is gone."
13If, when hearing that I have been stilled at last, they stand at the door,
14Watching the full-starred heavens that winter sees,
15Will this thought rise on those who will meet my face no more,
16"He was one who had an eye for such mysteries"?
17And will any say when my bell of quittance is heard in the gloom,
18And a crossing breeze cuts a pause in its outrollings,
19Till they rise again, as they were a new bell's boom,
20"He hears it not now, but used to notice such things?"
1When the Present has latched its postern behind my tremulous stay,
2And the May month flaps its glad green leaves like wings,
3Delicate-filmed as new-spun silk, will the neighbours say,
4"He was a man who used to notice such things"?
5If it be in the dusk when, like an eyelid's soundless blink,
6The dewfall-hawk comes crossing the shades to alight
7Upon the wind-warped upland thorn, a gazer may think,
8"To him this must have been a familiar sight."
9If I pass during some nocturnal blackness, mothy and warm,
10When the hedgehog travels furtively over the lawn,
11One may say, "He strove that such innocent creatures should come to no harm,
12But he could do little for them; and now he is gone."
13If, when hearing that I have been stilled at last, they stand at the door,
14Watching the full-starred heavens that winter sees,
15Will this thought rise on those who will meet my face no more,
16"He was one who had an eye for such mysteries"?
17And will any say when my bell of quittance is heard in the gloom,
18And a crossing breeze cuts a pause in its outrollings,
19Till they rise again, as they were a new bell's boom,
20"He hears it not now, but used to notice such things?"
When the Present has latched its postern behind my tremulous stay,
And the May month flaps its glad green leaves like wings,
Delicate-filmed as new-spun silk, will the neighbours say,
"He was a man who used to notice such things"?
If it be in the dusk when, like an eyelid's soundless blink,
The dewfall-hawk comes crossing the shades to alight
Upon the wind-warped upland thorn, a gazer may think,
"To him this must have been a familiar sight."
If I pass during some nocturnal blackness, mothy and warm,
When the hedgehog travels furtively over the lawn,
One may say, "He strove that such innocent creatures should come to no harm,
But he could do little for them; and now he is gone."
If, when hearing that I have been stilled at last, they stand at the door,
Watching the full-starred heavens that winter sees,
Will this thought rise on those who will meet my face no more,
"He was one who had an eye for such mysteries"?
And will any say when my bell of quittance is heard in the gloom,
And a crossing breeze cuts a pause in its outrollings,
Till they rise again, as they were a new bell's boom,
"He hears it not now, but used to notice such things?"
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
A Biography of Thomas Hardy — Read more about the poet and novelist's life and career in this Poetry Foundation article.
The Poem Aloud — Listen to a reading of "Afterwards."
An Introduction to the Victorian Era — Learn more about the Victorian era, in which Hardy lived most of his life, and which continued to influence his poetry into old age.
An Introduction to Modernism — Learn more about the Modernist movement, which encompassed Hardy's later years and shaped his poetry as well.
The Thomas Hardy Society — An organization devoted to the appreciation and understanding of Hardy's work.