The poem
I remember a house where all were good To me, God knows, deserving no such thing: Comforting smell breathed at very entering, Fetched fresh, as I suppose, off some sweet wood. That cordial air made those kind people a hood All over, as a bevy of eggs the mothering wing Will, or mild nights the new morsels of spring: Why, it seemed of course; seemed of right it should. Lovely the woods, waters, meadows, combes, vales, All the air things wear that build this world of Wales; Only the inmate does not correspond: God, lover of souls, swaying considerate scales, Complete thy creature dear O where it fails, Being mighty a master, being a father and fond.
The sonnet “In The Valley Of The Elwy” is Gerard Manley Hopkins’ salute to the beauty of nature. Nature is good, and in fact, man is “deserving no such thing.” Its goodness is covers all, like “That cordial air made those kind people a hood / All over, as a bevy of eggs the mothering wing / Will, or mild nights the new morsels of spring:” However, a question disturbed the poet: if everything seemed right and…
Read the whole commentThe sonnet “In The Valley Of The Elwy” is Gerard Manley Hopkins’ salute to the beauty of nature. Nature is good, and in fact, man is “deserving no such thing.” Its goodness is covers all, like “That cordial air made those kind people a hood / All over, as a bevy of eggs the mothering wing / Will, or mild nights the new morsels of spring:” However, a question disturbed the poet: if everything seemed right and beautiful, what is then the source of all troubles in the world? According to Hopkins’ it is man himself, because man “does not correspond.” And for this, he sought the help of God to “Complete Thy creature dear O where it fails” because the author knew only God can truly change man to appreciate what is surrounding him.
It was human who presses the environment, abusing nature, creating the surrounding. The poet seemed helpless for the troubles humanity brings to life. He did not offer the immediate solution, but he has the ultimate one: call on God for guidance.