This late collection from one of the world's finest poets continues the melancholy themes for which he is celebrated. Meseems that the poems herein are less anthologized than his earlier work, but I found them just as affecting; certainly it would take a hard heart indeed to leave masterpieces such as 'The rift' and 'Last words to a dumb friend' with dry eyes. If memory serves, though, his earlier collections did have a few rays of light, happier poetry which provided variety and spice. It's difficult to think of a single cheerful poem here, though, and, although enthusiasts come into Hardy's world to empathize with the hardnesses of his cold and godless universe, I think the collection would be just a bit better for some whimsy. ( )