II - Rain on a Grave
This piece sets the poem Rain on a Grave from Hardy's collection Poems of 1912-13 which are a complicated response to the death of his first wife Emma.
The piece was premiered in Adleburgh at the Red House in December 2019
The piece was premiered in Adleburgh at the Red House in December 2019
Rain on a Grave - T. Hardy Clouds spout upon her Their waters amain In ruthless disdain, - Her who would lately Had shivered with pain As at touch of dishonour If there had lit on her So coldly, so straightly Such arrows of rain [stanza 2 not set] Would that I lay there And she were housed here! Or better, together Were folded away there Exposed to one weather We both, - who would stray there When sunny the day there, Or evening was clear At the prime of the year. Soon will be growing Green blades from her mound, And daisies be showing Like stars on the ground, Till she form part of them - Ay - the sweet heart of them, Loved beyond measure All her life's round. |
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