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1840–1928

THE CAGED GOLDFINCH

Thomas Hardy

Within a churchyard, on a recent grave, I saw a little cage That jailed a goldfinch. All was silence save Its hops from stage to stage.

There was inquiry in its wistful eye, And once it tried to sing; Of him or her who placed it there, and why, No one knew anything.

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THE CAGED GOLDFINCH · Thomas Hardy · Poetry Cove