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by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928)

The Background and the Figure
Language: English 
I think of the slope where the rabbits fed,
Of the periwinks' rockwork lair,
Of the fuchsias ringing their bells of red -
And the something else seen there.

Between the blooms where the sod basked bright,
By the bobbing fuchsia trees,
Was another and yet more eyesome sight -
The sight that richened these.

I shall seek those beauties in the spring,
When the days are fit and fair,
But only as foils to the one more thing
That also will flower there!

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas Hardy (1840 - 1928), "The Background and the Figure", appears in Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses, first published 1917 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Bernard James Naylor (1907 - 1986), "The Background and the Figure", published 1930 [ SSAA chorus and piano ], from Two Lyrics [sung text not yet checked]

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2007-06-18
Line count: 12
Word count: 82

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