Shut Out That Moon - Thomas Hardy (Performed & Arranged by Steven Ashe)

Shut Out That Moon
By Thomas Hardy

Close up the casement, draw the blind,
Shut out that stealing moon,
She wears too much the guise she wore
Before our lutes were strewn
With years-deep dust, and names we read
On a white stone were hewn.

Step not forth on the dew-dashed lawn
To view the Lady's Chair,
Immense Orion's glittering form,
The Less and Greater Bear:
Stay in; to such sights we were drawn
When faded ones were fair.

Brush not the bough for midnight scents
That come forth lingeringly,
And wake the same sweet sentiments
They breathed to you and me
When living seemed a laugh, and love
All it was said to be.

Within the common lamp-lit room
Prison my eyes and thought;
Let dingy details crudely loom,
Mechanic speech be wrought:
Too fragrant was Life's early bloom,
Too tart the fruit it brought!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Steven Ashe
• Thomas Hardy
• English Poets
• English Literature
• Poetry

[Gracefulland]

I felt so calm yet so sad listening to this, what a beautiful interpretation of Hardy's poem.

[ukedge87]

Interesting interpretation of the poem.

[julsmi284]

love it Steve

julie x

[julsmi284]

love it Steve x

[rhiannarita]

Beautiful rendition of Hardy's  poem.