Nobody Comes by Thomas Hardy

             'Nobody Comes' by Thomas Hardy is a poem based on true events which happened in Hardy's life. The poem is based on Hardy waiting at home for his second wife who has a tumor removed and is being taken home by Hardy's brother. The poem has a very negative tone created through the use of personification, pathetic fallacy and semantic field to reinforce a sense of isolation and loneliness. The poem explores the various things Hardy witnesses whilst waiting for his wife to come home. .
             Hardy sets the scene in the beginning of the poem, reinforcing an isolated setting. The stanza opens with the use of personification; "Tree-leaves labour up and down" which creates a dark and eerie tone. The verb "labour" infers the trees are being forced to move hinting the trees are being pushed around by the wind. The use of this pathetic fallacy gives the reader a sense of abandonment and isolation as Hardy takes in his surroundings. Furthermore, the trees are further personified when Hardy states the trees "succumbs to the crawl of the night." The word 'succumbs' refers to the trees slowing down as night time sets in. The use of the semantic field using words such as "labour", "succumbs" and "crawl" creates a negative imagery symbolizing how lonely and scared Hardy is; this negative opening reinforces Hardy's sadness and worries which he has for his wife's safety.
             Furthermore, Hardy hints at a sense of isolation through his use of emotive language; "from the darkening land in tones to travelers" The 'darkening land' creates a lonely and dark tone, creating mystery and a sense of unknowing as the reader is not made aware of where the travelers are going. This symbolises Hardy's own negative feelings as he awaits his wife from the dark lands. This image of isolation is further developed by Hardy's use of the simile "like spectral lyre swept by as spectral hand".