Thomas Hardy — The Young Churchwarden

When he lit the candles there, And the light fell on his hand, And it trembled as he scanned Her and me, his vanquished air Hinted that his dream was done, And I saw he had begun         To understand. When Love's viol was unstrung, Sore I wished the hand that shook Had been mine that shared her book While that evening hymn was sung, His the victor's, as he lit Candles where he had bidden us sit         With vanquished look. Now her dust lies listless there, His afar from tending hand, What avails the victory scanned? Does he smile from upper air: "Ah, my friend, your dream is done; And 'tis YOU who have begun         To understand!