["My own heart let me more have pity on"]
My own heart let me more have pity on; let
Me live to my sad self hereafter kind,
Charitable; not live this tormented mind
With this tormented mind tormenting yet.
I cast for comfort I can no more get
By groping round my comfortless, than blind
Eyes in their dark can day or thirst can find
Thirst's all-in-all in all a world of wet.
Soul, self; come, poor Jackself, I do advise
You, jaded, lét be; call off thoughts awhile
Elsewhere; leave comfort root-room; let joy size
At God knows when to God knows what; whose smile
'S not wrung, see you; unforeseen times rather—as skies
Betweenpie mountains—lights a lovely mile.
Copyright Credit: Gerard Manley Hopkins, ["My own heart let me more have pity on"] from Gerard Manley Hopkins: Selected Poetry, ed. by Catherine Phillips (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 1996).
Source: Gerard Manley Hopkins: Selected Poetry (Oxford University Press, 1996)