by Thomas Hardy¹

    I

    In a solitude² of the sea

    Deep from human vanity，

    And the Pride of Life that planned her， stilly couches she.

    II

    Steel chambers³， late the pyres

    Of her salamandrine fires，

    Cold currents thrid， and turn to rhythmic⁴ tidal lyres.

    III

    Over the mirrors meant

    To glass the opulent

    The sea-worm crawls——grotesque， slimed， dumb， indifferent.

    IV

    Jewels in joy designed

    To ravish the sensuous⁵ mind

    Lie lightless， all their sparkles bleared and black and blind.

    V

    Dim moon-eyed fishes near

    Gaze at the gilded⁶ gear

    And query⁷： "What does this vaingloriousness down here？". . .

    VI

    Well： while was fashioning

    This creature of cleaving⁸ wing，

    The Immanent Will that stirs and urges everything

    VII

    Prepared a sinister⁹ mate

    For her——so gaily¹⁰ great——

    A Shape of Ice， for the time fat and dissociate.

    VIII

    And as the smart ship grew

    In stature¹¹， grace， and hue¹²

    In shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg¹³ too.

    IX

    Alien they seemed to be：

    No mortal eye could see

    The intimate welding of their later history.

    X

    Or sign that they were bent¹⁴

    By paths coincident

    On being anon twin halves of one August event，

    XI

    Till the Spinner of the Years

    Said "Now！" And each one hears，

    And consummation comes， and jars two hemispheres.

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