Thomas Hardy's Poem "The Voice"

The title of Thomas Hardy's poem "The Voice" reveals a lot about its mode of delivery. The audible whispers of the woman calling, calling are conveyed to the reader through literary devices such as rhyme and rhythm. The voice of the woman is translated into the voice of the poet. "The voice" of the woman becomes a symbol of the narrator's memory, which is tainted by illusion and attachment to the past. The poem does not reek of sadness, however. The mood of the poem remains lighthearted and jovial, evident in the imagery, rhythm, and rhyme scheme. Hardy cleverly paces his lines and stanzas so that the central theme and imagery of "The Voice" become integrated with the language, structure, and tone of the poem. The sentiment of missing someone, of longing for a lost lover through the contented lens of the present, is delivered...
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