It's been said so often that Hardy's poetry is awkward because that's how many people feel! I can, and will, post examples (although, do I really need to? -- we all know it's true of at least some of his work). Even Richard Wilbur, in an interview reprinted in his Conversations book, expressed reservations. But as I said, I do like a great deal of Hardy's poetry, I just don't love it with a passion.
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