To seem the stranger lies my lot, my life
To seem the stranger lies my lot, my life
Original Text
The Later Poetic Manuscripts of Gerard Manley Hopkins in Facsimile, ed. Norman H. MacKenzie (New York and London: Garland Publishing, 1991): 266. PR 4803 H44A6 1991 Robarts Library
1To seem the stranger lies my lot, my life
2Among strangers. Father and mother dear,
3Brothers and sisters are in Christ not near
4And he my peace / my parting, sword and strife.
5England, whose honour O all my heart woos, wife
6To my creating thought, would neither hear
7Me, were I pleading, plead nor do I: I wear-
8Y of idle a being but by where wars are rife.
10Remove. Not but in all removes I can
11Kind love both give and get. Only what word
12Wisest my heart breeds dark heaven's baffling ban
13Bars or hell's spell thwarts. This to hoard unheard,
14Heard unheeded, leaves me a lonely began.
Notes
9] During the last years of his life, Hopkins was Chair of Classics at University College, Dublin, Ireland. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1918
RPO poem Editors
Marc R. Plamondon
RPO Edition
2006
Rhyme
Form