Pied Beauty
by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Glory be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And all trades, their gear and tackle and trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise Him.
Seemed like a good day for an old favorite. Read it aloud and savor Hopkins' rich words.
Next time we gather, it will be 2019, so early best wishes for a new year full of dappled things and the embrace of change. Next time we gather, I'll have the 2018 Poetry Friday Roundups archived at Kidlitosphere Central and the first half of 2019 ready to go. Until then, Donna has today's roundup at Mainely Write.
Ah yes, an old favorite! Thanks for the opportunity to read it again!
ReplyDeleteA perfect poem to usher in the new year. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLovely language to linger over, Mary Lee. And many thanks for coordinating the annual PF schedule, too. Much appreciated! I missed the call the first round of 2019, but while await the next! Happy new year! -- Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, this poem is wonderful-full of praise and yes, you are right to say read it aloud. I have been holding onto hope this year as you know and realizing that the gift you sent me noted the words embrace hope. As I have been pondering what would be my one word for 2019, I keep on seeing and hearing the world embrace finding its way into my heart and now you write best wishes for a year full of dappled things and the embrace of change.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. An old favorite is just right for this moment. It settled over me soft and familiar and lovely. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI do love this poem and hearing the words tumble forth!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful. I like the part about 'trade', thinking of past family. Happy New Year, Mary Lee.
ReplyDeleteA glorious poem, indeed!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to sing gratitude for the counter, original, spare, and strange? Glory be!
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my first favorite poems ever and remains in my Top Five--but I don't think I knew at 15 why I needed it, beyond that GMH seemed to be encouraging us to go ahead and ditch our preppy plaids for punk and purple. Glory be for the extremity of language that this unassuming priest dared.
ReplyDeleteI love when someone posts a poem I have loved, but kind of forgotten. This one truly is a perfect reminder. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I love the idea of paying tribute to all things dappled. Happy New Year, Mary Lee!
ReplyDeleteLove the sounds in this poem and how they feel on my lips. I've saved it to read aloud to my students. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this in quite a while. It's sublime. Thank you for sharing it today. Happy New Year, Mary Lee!
ReplyDeleteGosh this is a gorgeous poem, I read it through twice and will read it again, it fills you up from inside out, and then some… thanks for sharing it with us Mary Lee. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this poem before--it's amazing! I love the sounds and images. Thanks for sharing it. And Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteReading this poem sent me searching for one by Galway Kinnell -- "Saint Francis and the Sow." https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42683/saint-francis-and-the-sow
ReplyDeleteLove this! Perfect pairing!
DeleteMary Lee, I see you've archived 2018's roundups and put up 2019's, but it looks as though they are Poetry Mondays and not Fridays - the dates are a little off. Just thought I'd let you know...
ReplyDeleteYIKES! Thanks for catching that! Looks like it was just the first month or two.
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