Depart then, Love!...Man's race shall end, dost threaten thou? The age to come the man of now Know nothing of? We fear not such a threat from thee; We are too old in apathy! Mankind shall cease. So let it be,' I said to Love.Poems of the Past and the Present contains poems on war and pilgrimage as well as imitation of classical poets such as Sapho and Catullus.

"Life laughed and moved on unsubdued, / I saw that Old succumbed to Young: / 'Twas well. My too regretful mood / Died on my tongue." Moments of Vision and Miscellaneous Verses includes some of Hardy's most beautiful poems on war and patriotism. Hardy's poems exemplify his mastery of lyrical language and melodious phrasing.