Neutral Tones  
    Thomas Hardy
     WE stood by a pond that winter day, 
     And the sun was white, as though chidden of God, 
     And a few leaves lay on the starving sod, 
        --They had fallen from an ash, and were gray. 

     Your eyes on me were as eyes that rove 
     Over tedious riddles of  years ago; 
     And some words played between us to and fro-- 
        On which lost the more by our love. 

     The smile on your mouth was the deadest thing 
     Alive enough to have strength to die; 
     And a grin of bitterness swept thereby 
        Like an ominous bird a-wing.... 

     Since then, keen lessons that love deceives, 
     And wrings with wrong, have shaped to me 
     Your face, and the God-curst sun, and a tree, 
        And a pond edged with grayish leaves.