Self-portrait

A self-portrait of a well-known poet in his or her style

(Thomas Hardy)

At sink of sun on Stinsford ridge,

On Stinsford ridge,

Eyes westward turned to Casterbridge,

I view myself in former times,

Keen-eyed, fair-faced and willow-thin

With fiddle tucked beneath my chin

Not doubting I should woo and win

The world with sparkling rhymes.

No more aglow, but hardier now,

Aye, hardier now,

Face weathered like the greenwood bough,

I view one forged by storm and squall,

By blizzard blown and tempest tossed,

Heart frozen hard as winter frost,

Eyes coldly turned on love, long lost,

And caring not at all.