Nature

The Lantern out of Doors

by Gerard Manley Hopkins 1844–1889

From Poems (1918)

Nature

SOMETIMES a lantern moves along the night,
That interests our eyes. And who goes there?
I think; where from and bound, I wonder, where,
With, all down darkness wide, his wading light?

Men go by me whom either beauty bright
In mould or mind or what not else makes rare:
They rain against our much-thick and marsh air
Rich beams, till death or distance buys them quite.

Death or distance soon consumes them: wind
What most I may eye after, be in at the end
I cannot, and out of sight is out of mind.

Christ minds: Christ's interest, what to avow or amend
There, éyes them, heart wánts, care haúnts, foot
fóllows kínd,
Their ránsom, théir rescue, ánd first, fást, last friénd.

MLA

Hopkins, Gerard Manley. “The Lantern out of Doors.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/hopkins/9/.

Chicago

Hopkins, Gerard Manley. “The Lantern out of Doors.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/hopkins/9/.

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