poetry texts, poem archive at plagiarist.com

Read more poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins: Gerard Manley Hopkins Poems at Poetry X.

Patience, hard thing! the hard thing but to pray,
But bid for, Patience is! Patience who asks
Wants war, wants wounds; weary his times, his tasks;
To do without, take tosses, and obey.
  Rare patience roots in these, and, these away,
Nowhere. Natural heart's ivy, Patience masks
Our ruins of wrecked past purpose. There she basks
Purple eyes and seas of liquid leaves all day. 

  We hear our hearts grate on themselves: it kills
To bruise them dearer. Yet the rebellious wills
Of us we do bid God bend to him even so.
  And where is he who more and more distils
Delicious kindness?—He is patient. Patience fills
His crisp combs, and that comes those ways we know. 

Added: 12 Aug 2002 | Last Read: 7 Jun 2025 4:45 PM | Viewed: 5752 times

A PoetryNotes™ Analysis of Patience, Hard Thing! The Hard Thing But To Pray by Gerard Manley Hopkins, is Available!

A PoetryNotes™ eBook is available for this poem for delivery within 24 hours, and usually available within minutes during normal business hours.

ON SALE - only $29.95 19.95!

For more information...