Poem A Day

Classic poem

Peace

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

When will you ever, Peace, wild wooddove, shy wings shut,

Your round me roaming end, and under be my boughs?

When, when, Peace, will you, Peace? I'll not play hypocrite

To own my heart: I yield you do come sometimes; but

That piecemeal peace is poor peace. What pure peace allows

Alarms of wars, the daunting wars, the death of it?

O surely, reaving Peace, my Lord should leave in lieu

Some good! And so he does leave Patience exquisite,

That plumes to Peace thereafter. And when Peace here does house

He comes with work to do, he does not come to coo,

He comes to brood and sit.

naturelovedeathfaithwartime
Public domain/Source

About this poem

First line
When will you ever, Peace, wild wooddove, shy wings shut,
Poet
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Themes
nature, love, death, faith

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