I had never heard of this poet until today, as I am picking up where I left off in The Well Educated Mind poetry challenge. Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889), was an English poet turned Jesuit priest who struggled between his love of poetry and the Catholic Church.
This first poem, The Windhover, is considered one of his best by some, including himself. It has a personal, private experience to it, to the point where I was not certain what or who he was writing about. I confirmed it with help from Poetry Foundation. Here is the link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/arti...
Yes, it is a bird -- a falcon. like a kestrel or a windhover. Didn't know that either. Hopkins is so clever, he seeks to write his sonnet to the rhythm of the flight of the bird.
It is mentioned that Windhover is a praise of poetry itself as a gift from God, a way for us to see deeper into the nature of things.
It is a sweet short first poem, and I look forward to getting to know more of GM Hopkins.
This first poem, The Windhover, is considered one of his best by some, including himself. It has a personal, private experience to it, to the point where I was not certain what or who he was writing about. I confirmed it with help from Poetry Foundation. Here is the link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/arti...
Yes, it is a bird -- a falcon. like a kestrel or a windhover. Didn't know that either. Hopkins is so clever, he seeks to write his sonnet to the rhythm of the flight of the bird.
It is mentioned that Windhover is a praise of poetry itself as a gift from God, a way for us to see deeper into the nature of things.
It is a sweet short first poem, and I look forward to getting to know more of GM Hopkins.