Isn't the Ocean Glorious?

Me on the Maine Coast with the Tide coming in and hitting the Rocks

Gerard Manley Hopkins 1

So, for anyone who hasn't heard or read Gerard Manley Hopkins, you're in for a treat. I heard of him a year or two ago and have been thoroughly enjoying a compilation of his works recently. He was a monastic who wrote poetry during the late 1800's and it's beautiful. He shows a lot of internal wrestling and depression in his poems, but God's love and grace shine through as well. He is now a well-known poet and I thought I'd pick out a poem (which seemed appropriate for this blog) to include here. This is not my favorite poem of his, but as I said, it seemed appropriate. Savor and Enjoy!


A Fragment of Anything You Like
FAIR, but of fairness as a vision dream'd;
Dry were her sad eyes that would fain have stream'd;
She stood before a light not hers, and seem'd

The lorn Moon, pale with piteous dismay,
Who rising late had miss'd her painful way
In wandering until broad light of day;

Then was discover'd in the pathless sky,
White-faced, as one in sad assay to fly
Who asks not life but only place to die.