Throughout his short life, Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote occasional poems. Some were late apologies for missing a sister’s birthday. Others were designed to be presented to his Jesuit community, such as a playful description of a superior. And many were written to commemorate the liturgical season. During the Lent of 1866, he wrote the poem, … More Beginning Lent with Father Gerard’s “Nondum”
Easter Communion Pure fasted faces draw unto this feast: God comes all sweetness to your Lenten lips. You striped in secret with breath-taking whips, Those crookèd rough-scored chequers may be pieced To crosses meant for Jesu’s; you whom the East With drafth of thin and pursuant cold so nips Breath Easter now; you sergèd fellowships, […]
‘O Death, Death’ O Death, Death, He is come. O grounds of Hell make room. Who came from further than the stars Now comes as low beneath. Thy ribbèd ports, O Death Make wide; and Thou, O Lord of Sin, Lay open thine estates. Lift up your heads, O Gates; Be ye lift up, ye […]
No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief, More pangs will, schooled at forepangs, wilder wring. Comforter, where, where is your comforting? Mary, mother of us, where is your relief? My cries heave, herds-long; huddle in a main, a chief- Woe, wórld-sorrow; on an áge-old ánvil wínce and síng– Then lull, […]
The Mother of Sorrows A PATHETICAL DESCANT UPON THE DEVOUT PLAIN- SONG OF STABAT MATER DOLOROSA I In shade of Death’s sad tree Stood doleful she. Ah she, now by none other Name to be known, alas, but Sorrow’s Mother. Before her eyes Hers and the whole World’s Joy, Hanging all torn, she sees; and […]
“The Dark Morning” This is the black day when Fog rides the ugly air: Water wades among the buildings To the prisonder’s curled ear. The rain, in thin sentences, Slakes him like danger, Whose heart is his Germany Fevered with anger. This is the dark day when Locks let the enemy in Through all the […]
S. Thomae Aquinatis Rhythmus ad SS. Sacramentum ‘Adoro te supplex, latens deitas’ Godhead, I adore thee fast in hiding; thou God in these bare shapes, poor shadows, darkling now: See, Lord, at thy service low lies here a heart Lost, all lost in wonder at the God thou art. Seeing, touching, tasting, are in thee […]
