’Something tapped’ (August, 1913) is one of the famous ‘Emma Poems’ written, in remorse, by the novelist and poet, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), following the death of his first wife, Emma Lavinia Gifford (1840-1912). Hardy had discovered a notebook, entitled ‘What I Think of My Husband’, in her attic bedroom, and he spent the rest of his life regretting the unhappiness he had caused her. In this poem, the poet is awoken by a sound at the window, which he believes is Emma's ghost asking him to join her. When, however, he moves closer to the pane, he sees only a ‘pallid moth’. This is one of my original compositions for voice, for soprano (Emma) and tenor (the poet), and piano.

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A neat analysis of the poem may be found here.