To a Varied Thrush
One of the pied beauties
To a Varied Thrush
on seeing the northwest herald of spring one cold, dark March morning
Dearly met, you darling dappled thing!
Oh, brindled bird of stipple body, bright-streaked - shine forth!
Quick flick of fire - flame - a feathered torch,
Unconsumed. Oh, you of painted wing,
Pieced of dusty charcoal, black, warm earthy brown,
Orange of bonfires, sunsets, lilies, pumpkins -
All things that sing summer and harvest - tropes
Some say are spent but oh, when dark comes down
To roost and brood like bird of carrion -
You flash! The tropes prove true; in renewed hope
We praise Him.
Last summer, my daughter's painting instructor had her do a master study for their last portrait. They worked on studying the techniques of Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring and then spent a few weeks imitating the piece. Her painting turned out well and she learned a lot.
When I saw the varied thrush in our yard last week (the first sighting of the year), I immediately thought of Hopkins' “dappled things” and pied beauties and decided to write a poem to the bird in the style of that Hopkins' famous verse.
Someday, I hope to meet Mr. Hopkins in Glory and apologize for the liberties I took with his poem, but also, it was a whole lot of fun to try to write in his style so really, I'm not that sorry.
Love this!!
Hopkins is a favorite.
In Honor of Gerard Manley Hopkins
What kin, relation can, compare the poet’s craft
to current verse composed, lacking constraint or rhyme?
Stretched, sprung, beats that bounce owe, creator-debt to time
unhindered Hopkins, like - to pop studios hallelujahs waft.
.
To walk along, along, to notice little things
to find the stress ínherent, ín words, ín landscapes ín
why - woods, wings, wonder, why-whén-spléndor that the Whip-poor-will thén
sings?
.
And then express, press, stress, the potential of words
if need be make your own, find the sound, pound, forge anew
énlárge whát wórds cán dó
with word extensions new, word-stew, word-glue, words-to-words.
.
Always the impression, No! ínspiration fire
burning unquenchable, reason for being made
to reveal the glory of God hidden as ciphers by holy design laid
in éverything created. Displayed ah! proclaimed with heaven-choir.