Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE BUGLER'S FIRST COMMUNION, by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: A bugler boy from barrack (it is over the hill there) Last Line: Forward-like, but however, and like favourable heaven heard these. Subject(s): Army Life; Eucharist; Gays & Lesbians; Drills & Minor Tactics; Communion; Homoeroticism; Lesbians; Gay Women; Gay Men | ||||||||
A BUGLER boy from barrack (it is over the hill There) -- boy bugler, born, he tells me, of Irish Mother to an English sire (he Shares their best gifts surely, fall how things will), This very very day came down to us after a boon he on My late being there begged of me, overflowing Boon in my bestowing, Came, I say, this day to it -- to a First Communion. Here he knelt then in regimental red. Forth Christ from cupboard fetched, how fain I of feet To his youngster take his treat! Low-latched in leaf-light housel his too huge godhead. There! and your sweetest sendings, ah divine, By it, heavens, befall him! as a heart Christ's darling, dauntless; Tongue true, vaunt- and tauntless; Breathing bloom of a chastity in mansex fine. Frowning and forefending angel-warder Squander the hell-rook ranks sally to molest him; March, kind comrade, abreast him; Dress his days to a dexterous and starlight order. How it does my heart good, visiting at that bleak hill, When limber liquid youth, that to all I teach Yields tender as a pushed peach, Hies headstrong to its wellbeing of a self-wise self-will! Then though I should tread tufts of consolation Days after, so I in a sort deserve to And do serve God to serve to Just such slips of soldiery Christ's royal ration. Nothing else is like it, no, not all so strains Us: fresh youth fretted in a bloomfall all portending That sweet's sweeter ending; Realm both Christ is heir to and there reigns. O now well work that sealing sacred ointment! O for now charms, arms, what bans off bad And locks love ever in a lad! Let me though see no more of him, and not disappointment Those sweet hopes quell whose least me quickenings lift, In scarlet or somewhere of some day seeing That brow and bead of being, An our day's God's own Galahad. Though this child's drift Seems by a divine doom channelled, nor do I cry Disaster there; but may he not rankle and roam In backwheels though bound home? -- That left to the Lord of the Eucharist, I here lie by; Recorded only, I have put my lips on pleas Would brandle adamantine heaven with ride and jar, did Prayer go disregarded: Forward-like, but however, and like favourable heaven heard these. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FEMALE MASCULINITY by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM THE ASS FESTIVAL by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM THE BOOK OF SCAPEGOATS by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM DOSSIER OF IRRETRIEVABLES by WAYNE KOESTENBAUM THIS ONE'S FOR YOU by JAN HELLER LEVI I KNOW MY HUSBAND'S BODY by TIMOTHY LIU ABYSS by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS |
|