The Habit of Perfection

Gerard Manley Hopkins * Track #3 On Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins Now First Published

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Album Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins Now First Published

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Gerard Manley Hopkins

1918

The Habit of Perfection by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Performed by

Gerard Manley Hopkins

About

On January 18, 1866, the poet (age 22) wrote this poem, weeks before his decision to convert to Catholicism and join the cloister. A huge commitment, and one that, we very well know, would seal the course of his life.

“Habit” in the title has two connotations: 1) the deliberate practice of somethin...

The Habit of Perfection Annotated

3 The Habit of Perfection

ELECTED Silence, sing to me
And beat upon my whorlèd ear,
Pipe me to pastures still and be
The music that I care to hear.

Shape nothing, lips; be lovely-dumb:
It is the shut, the curfew sent
From there where all surrenders come
Which only makes you eloquent.

Be shellèd, eyes, with double dark
And find the uncreated light:
This ruck and reel which you remark
Coils, keeps, and teases simple sight.

Palate, the hutch of tasty lust,
Desire not to be rinsed with wine:
The can must be so sweet, the crust
So fresh that come in fasts divine!

Nostrils, your careless breath that spend
Upon the stir and keep of pride,
What relish shall the censers send
Along the sanctuary side!

O feel-of-primrose hands, O feet
That want the yield of plushy sward,
But you shall walk the golden street
And you unhouse and house the Lord.

And, Poverty, be thou the bride
And now the marriage feast begun,
And lily-coloured clothes provide
Your spouse not laboured-at nor spun.

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