Time's Laughingstocks, and Other Verses

"Time's Laughingstocks" by Thomas Hardy is a compilation of poems from the turn of the 20th century that examines love, loss, and time's relentless march, often showing the intricate feelings tied to relationships. These poems are full of nostalgia and thinking about the past, reminding us that life and love don't last forever. The book begins with "The Revisitation," telling the story of a man going back to a place important to him from when he was young, bringing back memories of love and longing. As he wanders through familiar places, time haunts him, showing how much things have changed, including himself. Meeting someone he once loved, now changed by age, brings a feeling of loss and a sad kind of remembrance. This emphasizes how Hardy looks at memory and how it affects our feelings even as the present disappears, setting a thoughtful mood for the rest of the verses, each exploring strong emotions and the inescapable effects of time on what we go through.