the windhover

the book i am currently reading used the first few lines of this poem as the epigram of the first chapter. except that it was quoted incorrectly - "i caught this mornings morning's minion". that annoyed me because at one time, i memorized this piece... or, at least a piece of the piece. i remember studying this poem, but do not remember at what point in my educational career that happened. most likely in college, most likely in a lit class that i vaguely remember from freshman year. i will find my norton anthology of poetry and see what it reveals in the way of classnotes.

at any rate - it's a fine poem. it's written in sprung verse. look it up - you'll be fascinated.


the windhover [gerard manley hopkins]

To Christ our Lord

I caught this morning morning’s minion, king-
dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird,—the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!

Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!

No wonder of it: sheer plod makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermillion.