Skip to content
Storgy

The Annotated Edition

Weathers by Thomas Hardy

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Read aloud in ~1 minOpen reading mode →

Hardy's "Weathers" is a two-stanza poem that captures two contrasting types of English weather: the cheerful, vibrant days of late spring that everyone enjoys, and the dull, dreary days of autumn that many wish to avoid.

Poet
Thomas Hardy
Composed
1922 · Modernist
Core theme
Beauty
The PoemFull text

Weathers

Thomas Hardy, 1922

This is the weather the cuckoo likes, And so do I; When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, And nestlings fly: And the little brown nightingale bills his best, And they sit outside at "The Travellers' Rest," And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest, And citizens dream of the south and west, And so do I. II This is the weather the shepherd shuns, And so do I; When beeches drip in browns and duns, And thresh, and ply; And hill-hid tides throb, throe on throe, And meadow rivulets overflow, And drops on gate-bars hang in a row, And rooks in families homeward go, And so do I.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

Study actions

Take the quizStudy sheet (PDF)

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Hardy's "Weathers" is a two-stanza poem that captures two contrasting types of English weather: the cheerful, vibrant days of late spring that everyone enjoys, and the dull, dreary days of autumn that many wish to avoid. Each stanza concludes with the same understated line — "And so do I" — lending a personal touch to the poem without being overly dramatic. It's a straightforward homage to our humanity and the shared emotions that birds, shepherds, and everyday people have always experienced.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. This is the weather the cuckoo likes, / And so do I;

    Editor's note

    Hardy begins by mentioning the cuckoo — the bird that returns to England every spring, its call signaling the arrival of warmer weather. By stating 'And so do I,' he draws a parallel between himself and the cuckoo, effectively bridging the gap between humans and animals, suggesting that they share similar desires. The tone is cheerful and has a childlike simplicity to it.

  2. When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, / And nestlings fly:

    Editor's note

    'Betumble' is a term coined by Hardy—he enjoyed creating verbs—and it beautifully illustrates how a spring shower doesn't just fall but tumbles and bounces off the upright flower clusters (spikes) of the chestnut tree. The mention of nestlings flying indicates that young birds are just leaving the nest, so this stanza is all about new life and energy.

  3. And the little brown nightingale bills his best, / And they sit outside at "The Travellers' Rest,"

    Editor's note

    The nightingale is singing its heart out, and folks are gathered outside at a country pub. Hardy lines up these images one after another, painting a scene of a community that feels vibrant and relaxed. The pub’s name, 'The Travellers' Rest,' suggests a sense of welcome and belonging — the world feels open and friendly.

  4. And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest, / And citizens dream of the south and west,

    Editor's note

    Sprig-muslin is a light cotton fabric adorned with floral patterns — perfect for those days when the weather finally feels right. The phrase 'Citizens dream of the south and west' reflects the English yearning for warmth and expansive landscapes. Hardy points out that even those living in the city feel drawn to nature on a beautiful spring day.

  5. This is the weather the shepherd shuns, / And so do I;

    Editor's note

    The second stanza has the same structure as the first, but the mood changes. The shepherd — a person familiar with the outdoors and the weather — tries to steer clear of this kind of day. Hardy connects once more with a figure grounded in nature, but this time the shared sentiment is one of retreat instead of joy.

  6. When beeches drip in browns and duns, / And thresh, and ply;

    Editor's note

    'Browns and duns' describe the muted, muddy shades of wet autumn leaves. 'Thresh and ply' convey a sense of the trees struggling and straining in the wind—they're not swaying effortlessly; they're pushing against something. The sound of these words feels weightier and slower compared to anything in the first stanza.

  7. And hill-hid tides throb, throe on throe, / And meadow rivulets overflow,

    Editor's note

    'Hill-hid tides' describes the sea or tidal rivers concealed by hills — you can sense their rhythm even if they’re out of sight. The phrase 'throe on throe' is striking: a throe signifies a spasm of pain, suggesting that the landscape itself appears to be in distress. Overflowing rivulets enhance this imagery of a world that’s overwhelmed and fighting to hold itself together.

  8. And drops on gate-bars hang in a row, / And rooks in families homeward go,

    Editor's note

    These two lines capture the emotional core of the second stanza. The raindrops resting on a gate offer a sharp, almost photographic detail—showcasing Hardy at his subtly brilliant best. The rooks heading home in family groups reflects our natural desire to seek shelter and be with loved ones when the weather changes. It’s a bleak scene, yet it carries a sense of hope.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone shifts smoothly between the two stanzas. The first is warm, light, and friendly—almost joyful. The second feels more subdued, heavy, and introspective. What ties them together is Hardy's consistent, straightforward voice: he doesn’t embellish either mood. The phrase 'And so do I' adds a sense of closeness and familiarity, like someone quietly agreeing with a truth they've held for a long time.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The cuckoo
The cuckoo is a classic English symbol signaling the arrival of spring. Hardy uses it to ground the first stanza in a sense of natural renewal and collective joy—both the bird and the speaker share in this delight.
The shepherd
The shepherd symbolizes a person whose existence is shaped by the weather and the land. When he states he avoids this weather 'and so do I,' Hardy links the educated poet-observer to the hardworking rural figure, implying they share the same instincts.
Drops on gate-bars
These hanging raindrops are among Hardy's most vivid images. They represent the stillness and gloom of bad weather — the world frozen, waterlogged, and waiting. They also imply a sense of careful, patient observation: only someone who has truly experienced that weather and paid attention would see them.
Rooks flying homeward
Rooks flying home in family groups reflect our own longing for shelter and companionship when times get tough. They subtly echo the poem's ending phrase, 'And so do I' — the speaker, much like the birds, is moving inward.
Sprig-muslin
The light, patterned fabric worn by the maids in stanza one symbolizes the joy and sensory delight that good weather brings. It's clothing that truly shines in warmth — a subtle detail that encapsulates the essence of an entire season.
The Travellers' Rest
The pub name represents a sense of community and hospitality. When the weather is nice, people congregate outside, creating an open atmosphere. Its mention in the first stanza makes the lack of a gathering place in the second stanza feel even more isolating.

§06Form & structure

Form & structure

Meter
free verse
Rhyme
ABACDDDD A ABACDDDD A

§07Historical context

Historical context

Thomas Hardy wrote "Weathers" in 1922, and it appears in his collection *Late Lyrics and Earlier*. By this time, Hardy had mostly stepped away from writing novels; the negative response to *Jude the Obscure* in 1895 had left him disillusioned with fiction. Instead, he devoted his later years to poetry. He spent the majority of his life in Dorset, and the English countryside significantly influenced his work. "Weathers" is rooted in a long-standing tradition of English nature poetry, but Hardy avoids any lofty philosophical themes, opting for a straightforward, observational style. The poem's two-stanza format, featuring repeating refrains, reflects the influence of folk songs and ballads, forms that Hardy admired and studied closely. Gerald Finzi set it to music in his song cycle *Earth and Air and Rain* (1936), giving the poem new life as a cherished piece within the English art-song repertoire.

§08FAQ

Questions readers ask

What is the poem 'Weathers' about?

It's about two very different kinds of English weather — a sunny, warm spring day and a dull, rainy autumn day — and how the speaker feels instinctively the same way about both as animals and rural workers do. It's a poem about connecting with the natural world.

What does 'And so do I' mean and why does Hardy repeat it?

The phrase shows Hardy aligning himself with whatever creature or person he just described — the cuckoo, the shepherd — and expressing: I feel the same way. By repeating it at the end of each stanza, it takes on the tone of a quiet, personal confession. This line serves as the emotional anchor of the entire poem.

What does 'betumble' mean?

'Betumble' is a word invented by Hardy. It refers to tumbling all over or tossing about, and he uses it to illustrate how a spring shower bounces and scatters across the chestnut flower spikes. Hardy often created new words when the existing vocabulary didn't quite capture what he intended to express.

What is 'sprig-muslin'?

Sprig-muslin is a lightweight cotton fabric adorned with a small floral or sprig design. During Hardy's time, it was a favored option for women's summer dresses. By mentioning it, Hardy indicates that the weather is warm enough for people to wear lighter clothing and enjoy the outdoors—it's a detail that reflects both social and fashion aspects.

What does 'throe on throe' mean?

A throe is a sudden, intense spasm of pain, typically referring to the pains of childbirth or the moments before death. Hardy uses it to describe the rhythmic pull of tides concealed by hills, suggesting the landscape is in agony. This striking phrase stands out in the poem and establishes the suffering tone of the second stanza.

What is the structure and form of 'Weathers'?

The poem consists of two stanzas, each with nine lines, maintaining a consistent rhyme scheme that revolves around two rhyme sounds per stanza. Both stanzas conclude with the refrain 'And so do I.' This structure reflects the folk song and ballad traditions that Hardy admired, and the use of parallel form creates a sense of symmetry and inevitability in contrasting the two weathers.

Is 'Weathers' a happy or sad poem?

It's both, held in balance. The first stanza is truly joyful, while the second is genuinely gloomy, but neither emotion is overdone. Hardy depicts both as equally real and human. The poem doesn't urge you to choose one over the other — it simply states: this is how it is, and I feel it too.

Why does Hardy mention rooks flying home in families?

Rooks are social birds that gather to roost, and watching them return home in groups during a stormy evening is a distinct rural scene. Hardy uses this imagery to reflect our natural tendency to find shelter and companionship when the weather turns bad. It subtly resonates with the poem's ending line, "And so do I" — just like the rooks, the speaker is also on their way home.

Key quotes

Key quotes

“This is the weather the cuckoo likes, And so do I;”
This opening couplet establishes the poem's central structural device: Hardy aligns himself with a creature of nature, and the refrain-like 'And so do I' will anchor both stanzas. It immediately signals that the poem is as much about human feeling as it is about weather.
“When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, And nestlings fly:”
Hardy's invented verb 'betumble' is a striking example of his idiosyncratic diction — it captures the playful, tumbling energy of spring rain in a single coinage, and the image of nestlings taking flight reinforces a mood of lively, bursting life.
“And hill-hid tides throb, throe on throe,”
This is the sonic and emotional centrepiece of the second stanza. The alliteration of 'throb, throe on throe' mimics the pulsing, relentless pressure of floodwater, and the word 'throe' (suggesting pain or agony) gives the bad weather a visceral, bodily intensity absent from the cheerful first stanza.
“And drops on gate-bars hang in a row, And rooks in families homeward go,”
These two lines form a quiet visual tableau that contrasts sharply with the sociable outdoor scene in stanza one. The isolated drops and the rooks retreating 'in families' both reinforce a mood of withdrawal and shelter-seeking, preparing the reader for Hardy's own closing retreat: 'And so do I.'

Citation

Cite this poem

MLA

Hardy, Thomas. "Weathers." 1922. Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/weathers-thomas-hardy/.

APA

Hardy, T. (1922). Weathers. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/weathers-thomas-hardy/

Text source: en.wikisource.org

TeacherAP Lit Q1 scaffold — preview

Row A — Thesis

1 pt

In 'Weathers,' Thomas Hardy uses the poem's rigid parallel structure and carefully contrasted sensory catalogues to argue that human consciousness is not separate from seasonal change but rhythmically entrained by it. To feel spring is to …

  • Row B — Evidence + Commentary4 pts
  • Row C — Sophistication1 pt
  • Common student errors
Unlock the full scaffold

Available on any Storgy plan — model paragraphs, band callouts, and common student errors for every poem.

The study desk

Teaching materials and reference tools prepared for this poem.

Seminar guideSocratic · printable

Discussion questions for Weathers

Open, analytical, and comparative questions for class discussion or a reading group — ready to print or project.

Essay promptsAO-aligned

Essay prompts on Weathers

Argument-led, context-led, and craft-led written tasks tied to this exact text, aligned to assessment objectives.

Quiz questionsAnswer key included

Reading-check questions for Weathers

Multiple-choice questions covering meaning, language, and form — each with the correct answer and a short rationale.

InteractiveSelf-test

Take the quiz on this poem

Test your reading directly on the page — instant scoring, no signup, no printing.

ReferenceMLA · APA · Chicago

Cite this poem

A properly formatted citation for your essay or bibliography, typeset by deterministic rules — no AI involved.

More by Thomas Hardy

Browse all Thomas Hardy poems →

Themes in this poem

Poems about BeautyPoems about HomePoems about MemoryPoems about Nature

Compared with

Compare this poem with any other →

Poetry tools

Analyze another poem →Rate your own poem →Check rhyme & meter →