Nature
The Lantern out of Doors
From Poems (1918)
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.
Cite this poem
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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