Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE, by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AS KINGFISHERS CATCH FIRE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame
Last Line: To the father through the features of men's faces.
Subject(s): Religion; Theology


AS kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves -- goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying What I do is me: for that I came.

I say more: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is --
Christ -- for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.






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