A poem for New Year: "The Darkling Thrush" by Thomas Hardy

If you watched my "poem for Christmas" (https://youtu.be/vUksoJwmGc4), you will know that Hardy is pretty pessimistic and can no longer believe in the God he was brought up to believe ...in. The world, as he sees it, is a rather bleak place, with not much hope.

Nevertheless, hope is an important part of his perception of the world. In this poem, as he compares the barren winter landscape that surrounds him with the dying century (the poem was written at the end of the 19th century), he expresses his surprise at the joyful sound of a thrush that seems to express something that the poet himself cannot feel.

If subtitles are not available in your language, please let me know and I will add them

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4 Comments

@Terry2377

May 29, 2023

Finding hope in the sound of a “darkling” thrush on a dreary winter day. Beautiful. Superbly analyzed.

@anosensei

May 29, 2023

Thank you for the feedback. I’m glad you liked it!

@thecoinsearcher9336

January 28, 2023

You have such a calming voice. 😀

@anosensei

January 28, 2023

Thank you!

Thomas Hardy: The Darkling Thrush – Reading & Analysis