TheShadowoone
ThomasHardy
&heDruidstone
Thatbroodsinthegardenwhiteandlone,
AndIstoppedaheshiftingshadows,
Thatatsomemomentsfallthereon
Fromthetreehardbywitharhythmig,
Andtheyshapedinmyimagining
Totheshadethatawell-knownheadandshoulders
&herewhenshewasgardening。
Ithoughtherbehindmyback,
Yea,herIloolack,
AndIsaid:“Iamsureyouarestandingbehindme,
Thoughhowdoyougetintothisoldtrack?”
Andtherewasnosoundbutthefallofaleaf
Asasadrespookeepdownmygrief
Iwouldnotturodiscover
Thattherewasnothinginmybelief。
&edtolookandsee
Thatnobodystoodatthebae;
ButIthoughtonay,I'llnotunvision
Ashapewhiehow,theremaybe。”
SoIwentonslade,
Aherbehihrowinghershade,
Asshewereindeedallapparition—
&urmydreamshouldfade。