Thomas Hardy — Afternoon Service At Mellstock

(Circa 1850) On afternoons of drowsy calm         We stood in the panelled pew, Singing one-voiced a Tate-and-Brady psalm         To the tune of "Cambridge New." We watched the elms, we watched the rooks,         The clouds upon the breeze, Between the whiles of glancing at our books,         And swaying like the trees. So mindless were those outpourings! -         Though I am not aware That I have gained by subtle thought on things         Since we stood psalming there.