Hopkins, noteless, yet sings by letter,

Under his rolling word now, how shakes

The human heart, how racing makes

The mind new thought, breaking the fetter

Of weary ways and crying, Come, Haste

Haste my soul to him that ever makes

The life-blood flow and flow, and rakes

The ashy coals into the windy morn.  No waste

Of kindling here; the fire will anew, now

Blaze!  And brim with warm the wide and wide

New morn.  Come my soul, the night long had

Its hold, but's gone now; Day's upon thy brow.

Find the long footstep, the impetuous stride

Follow, fellow, be free, and fully glad.



by Mary Daly


Gerard Manley Hopkins was one of the great Catholic poets of the 20th century. For a list of his poems, go to Bartleby's website on the 1918 publication of his poems.

Homage to Hopkins