HOPKINS, SUNSET, THE LAKE

As a fiery sunset lit the north shore, and a kingfisher's call broke the stillness, I was reminded of this, a favorite poem by the Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins.



As Kingfishers Catch Fire

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame;
As tumbled over rim in roundy wells
Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name;
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same:
Deals out that being indoors each one dwells;
Selves — goes itself; myself it speaks and spells,
Crying Whát I dó is me: for that I came.

I say móre: the just man justices;
Keeps grace: thát keeps all his goings graces;
Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is —
Chríst — for Christ plays in ten thousand places,
Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his
To the Father through the features of men's faces.

Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1918



Belted Kingfisher call


Photos: (top) sunset colors in my neighbor’s yard (bottom) elk bones from Alberta, glowing on my patio