To what serves mortal beauty ‘-dangerous; does set danc-
ing blood-the O-seal-that-so ‘ feature, flung prouder form
Than Purcell tune lets tread to? ‘ See: it does this: keeps warm
Men’s wits to the things that are; ‘ what good means-where a glance
Master more may than gaze, ‘ gaze out of countenance.
Those lovely lads once, wet-fresh ‘ windfalls of war’s storm,
How then should Gregory, a father, ‘ have gleanèd else from swarm-
ed Rome? But God to a nation ‘ dealt that day’s dear chance.
To man, that needs would worship ‘ block or barren stone,
Our law says: Love what are ‘ love’s worthiest, were all known;
World’s loveliest-men’s selves. Self ‘ flashes off frame and face.
What do then? how meet beauty? ‘ Merely meet it; own,
Home at heart, heaven’s sweet gift; ‘ then leave, let that alone.
Yea, wish that though, wish all, ‘ God’s better beauty, grace.
(Gerard Manley Hopkins)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, Man Poems, World Poems, War & Peace Poems, Faces Poems, Heaven Poems, Hope Poems, Home Poems, Beauty Poems, Fathers Poems, Charity PoemsBased on Keywords: wits, flashes, dealt, gregory, ing, prouder, worthiest, danc, gleaned, windfalls, purcell