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1840–1928

FAINTHEART IN A RAILWAY TRAIN

Thomas Hardy

At nine in the morning there passed a church, At ten there passed me by the sea, At twelve a town of smoke and smirch, At two a forest of oak and birch,

And then, on a platform, she: A radiant stranger, who saw not me. I queried, “Get out to her do I dare?” But I kept my seat in my search for a plea,

And the wheels moved on. O could it but be That I had alighted there!

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FAINTHEART IN A RAILWAY TRAIN · Thomas Hardy · Poetry Cove