Poems (Hardy)/Truth
For works with similar titles, see Truth.
TRUTH
MEN make thought of thee after their own
Measure. According to their wit they sound
Thy seas and search thy skies. When they have found
The thing that verifies their guess,—some stone
Too old for life carved deep with life, some cone
Where fern should be, some square that should be round,—
They make the world's broad market-place resound,
Till earth with shattered faiths lies thickly strewn.
Let us forbear to blame,—let us forbear!
For wistfully upon the desert waste
Men watch the eastern quarter of the sky;
For wistfully, with wide eyes half-aware
Of somewhat waiting still to know and taste,
Youth runs to meet thee face to face and die.
Measure. According to their wit they sound
Thy seas and search thy skies. When they have found
The thing that verifies their guess,—some stone
Too old for life carved deep with life, some cone
Where fern should be, some square that should be round,—
They make the world's broad market-place resound,
Till earth with shattered faiths lies thickly strewn.
Let us forbear to blame,—let us forbear!
For wistfully upon the desert waste
Men watch the eastern quarter of the sky;
For wistfully, with wide eyes half-aware
Of somewhat waiting still to know and taste,
Youth runs to meet thee face to face and die.