Thomas Hardy: Collected Lyrics
26 / 48
Public-domain lyrics

Revulsion

Thomas Hardy

“Revulsion” as printed in Wessex Poems and Other Verses (1899).

Thomas Hardy: Collected Lyrics Text 26 1899 · historical text
Public domainSong lyricsWessex verse
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Wessex Poems and Other Verses, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

THOUGH I waste watches framing words to fetter

Some spirit to mine own in clasp and kiss,

Out of the night there looms a sense 'twere better

To fail obtaining whom one fails to miss.

For winning love we win the risk of losing,

And losing love is as one's life were riven;

It cuts like contumely and keen ill-using

To cede what was superfluously given.

Verse 2

Let me then feel no more the fateful thrilling

That devastates the love-worn wooer's frame,

The hot ado of fevered hopes, the chilling

That agonizes disappointed aim!

So may I live no junctive law fulfilling,

And my heart's table bear no woman's name.

1866.

Credits

Written by Thomas Hardy

Words by Thomas Hardy. Historical text published in Wessex Poems and Other Verses (1899); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Wessex Poems and Other Verses (1899), “Revulsion”

The 1899 published edition is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) died more than 96 years ago and his works entered the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions in 1999; entries credited to other hands are held unless their author died more than 70 years ago.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-27. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
Keep tracing

More from Thomas Hardy: Collected Lyrics.

01I Look into my GlassPublic-domain lyrics02In Vision I RoamedPublic-domain lyrics03A Confession to a Friend in TroublePublic-domain lyrics04A Meeting with DespairPublic-domain lyrics