Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

LOOK at the stars! look, look up at the skies!

O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air!

The bright boroughs, the quivering citadels there!

The dim woods quick with diamond wells; the elf-eyes!

The grey lawns cold where quaking gold-dew lies!

Wind-beat white-beam; airy abeles all on flare!

Flake-doves sent floating out at a farmyard scare!—

Ah well! it is a purchase and a prize.

Buy then! Bid then!—What?—Prayer, patience, alms, vows.—

Look, look! a May-mess, like on orchard boughs;

Look! March-bloom, like on meal’d-with-yellow sallows.—

These are indeed the barn: within-doors house

The shocks. This piece-bright paling hides the Spouse

Christ, and the mother of Christ and all his hallows.