Required Reading: God's Grandeur, by Gerard Manley Hopkins
- Thread starter Tek7
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dorkelf
Active Member
I've actually sung this poem in a setting by Benjamin Britten for mixed chorus. Apparently Samuel Barber also set it to music.
Here is an interesting and rather touching reading of the poem:
http://realserver.bu.edu:8080/ramgen/f/a/favoritepoem/video2/kunitz.rm
I also found some insightful hints into the meaning of some of this poem's content. This is quoted from the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church website
(http://www.trinitymenlopark.org/journals/voices/2005/08/07/gods_grandeur.php)
"I'll pass on a few hints. For the line "ooze of oil, crushed", think about olives, bitter fruits enfused with a wonderful oil that oozes out when the olives are crushed. Burris also sees reference to the wonder of the Lord's blood, which oozes forth when he is crushed on the cross, but I prefer to stick with olives.
The line "reck his rod" uses the word "reck" to mean "listen to" or "consider" or "obey"; think "reckon", and the "rod" could be the rod of authority,or it could be a reference to Christ, God's son or "rod". It's similar, in concept, to the phrase, "rod of Jesse", a "rod" off the vine or root. So the line "why do men then now not reck his rod?" can be taken to mean, "why do men not obey his authority?", or "why do men not listen to his son?"
The poem does grab my heart because I struggle with the thought of millions and millions of people marching right through life without much of a thought about God. Without any hinderance to base instinct beyond law or the fear of social stigma, or any incentive to help or live at peace with others beyond their own inward conscience or whatever self-philosophy they may be following at the moment, it isn't a wonder that they tend to ultimately lead self-centered lives which mean nothing upon retrospect. That isn't necessarily what the poem is trying to say explicitly, just the thought it inspires in me.
By the way, here is my favorite poem by this poet (hope it doesn't sidetrack the thread but I just haveta share it
)
Thee, God, I Come From
Thee, God, I come from, to thee go,
All day long I like fountain flow
From thy hand out, swayed about
Mote-like in thy mighty glow.
What I know of thee I bless,
As acknowledging thy stress
On my being and as seeing
Something of thy holiness.
Once I turned from thee and hid,
Bound on what thou hadst forbid;
Sow the wind I would; I sinned:
I repent of what I did.
Bad I am, but yet thy child.
Father, be thou reconciled,
Spare thou me, since I see
With thy might that thou art mild.
I have life before me still
And thy purpose to fulfil;
Yea a debt to pay thee yet:
Help me, sir, and so I will.
But thou bidst, and just thou art,
Me shew mercy from my heart
Towards my brother, every other
Man my mate and counterpart.
Here is an interesting and rather touching reading of the poem:
http://realserver.bu.edu:8080/ramgen/f/a/favoritepoem/video2/kunitz.rm
I also found some insightful hints into the meaning of some of this poem's content. This is quoted from the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church website
(http://www.trinitymenlopark.org/journals/voices/2005/08/07/gods_grandeur.php)
"I'll pass on a few hints. For the line "ooze of oil, crushed", think about olives, bitter fruits enfused with a wonderful oil that oozes out when the olives are crushed. Burris also sees reference to the wonder of the Lord's blood, which oozes forth when he is crushed on the cross, but I prefer to stick with olives.
The line "reck his rod" uses the word "reck" to mean "listen to" or "consider" or "obey"; think "reckon", and the "rod" could be the rod of authority,or it could be a reference to Christ, God's son or "rod". It's similar, in concept, to the phrase, "rod of Jesse", a "rod" off the vine or root. So the line "why do men then now not reck his rod?" can be taken to mean, "why do men not obey his authority?", or "why do men not listen to his son?"
The poem does grab my heart because I struggle with the thought of millions and millions of people marching right through life without much of a thought about God. Without any hinderance to base instinct beyond law or the fear of social stigma, or any incentive to help or live at peace with others beyond their own inward conscience or whatever self-philosophy they may be following at the moment, it isn't a wonder that they tend to ultimately lead self-centered lives which mean nothing upon retrospect. That isn't necessarily what the poem is trying to say explicitly, just the thought it inspires in me.
By the way, here is my favorite poem by this poet (hope it doesn't sidetrack the thread but I just haveta share it
)Thee, God, I Come From
Thee, God, I come from, to thee go,
All day long I like fountain flow
From thy hand out, swayed about
Mote-like in thy mighty glow.
What I know of thee I bless,
As acknowledging thy stress
On my being and as seeing
Something of thy holiness.
Once I turned from thee and hid,
Bound on what thou hadst forbid;
Sow the wind I would; I sinned:
I repent of what I did.
Bad I am, but yet thy child.
Father, be thou reconciled,
Spare thou me, since I see
With thy might that thou art mild.
I have life before me still
And thy purpose to fulfil;
Yea a debt to pay thee yet:
Help me, sir, and so I will.
But thou bidst, and just thou art,
Me shew mercy from my heart
Towards my brother, every other
Man my mate and counterpart.
Last edited:
ChickenSoup
Banned
What's "required reading"? Will I get banned if I don't read it???!!!!
anyway. In all seriousness... I'm not one for poems.
anyway. In all seriousness... I'm not one for poems.
Me too. The only thing I like "interpreting" is the Bible. Revelations was awesome.
Neirai the Forgiven
Christian Guilds List Manager
But I bet you're listening to a CD right now
Poems == songs == poems.
For example,
Here's a poem you might be familiar with:
That (was) a popular classic rock song, Tonight is a wonderful time by the band, April Wine. It's good poetry.
I could come out with a whole bunch of good poetry -- U2, Sting, Project 86, Metallica, Skillet, you name it. Poems == music == poems
ChickenSoup
Banned
songs are different. Guitar solos keep you awake, for one.
And no, actually, I've never heard or heard of that song.
But I understand your point.
And yes, Revelations is AWESOME!!
And no, actually, I've never heard or heard of that song.
But I understand your point.
And yes, Revelations is AWESOME!!
I could come out with a whole bunch of good poetry -- U2, Sting, Project 86, Metallica, Skillet, Pillar, Thousand Foot Krutch, LeCrae, the Beatles, Relient K, Newsboys, Santana, the Eagles, Grits, Spongebob theme song, you name it. Poems == music == poems
Anything with sweet guitars or a sweet beat is sweet. And to be honest, I usually don't listen to the lyrics (as my mind drifts, a lot).