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We can see the general characteristics of the earlier decade if we look at two poems of very different qualities: `` Revulsion '' ( 1866 ) and `` Neutral Tones '' ( 1867 ).

There is not much to be said for `` Revulsion ''.

Like about half of the 1860 - 70 poems, it is a sonnet on a conventional theme -- the unhappiness of love.

Almost anyone could have written it ; ;

it is competent in the sense that it makes a coherent statement without violating the rules of the sonnet form, but it is entirely undistinguished and entirely unlike Hardy.

The language is the conventional language of the form ; ;

there is no phrase or image that sounds like Hardy or that is striking enough to give individuality to the poem.

It is smoother than Hardy usually is, but with the smoothness of anonymity.

It is obviously a young man's poem, written out of books and not out of experience ; ;

it asserts emotion without evoking it -- that is to say, it is sentimental.

There are many such competently anonymous performances among the earlier poems.