The Soldier
Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1918
YES. Why do we áll, seeing of a
soldier, bless him? bless
Our redcoats, our tars? Both these
being, the greater part,
But frail clay, nay but foul clay. Here
it is: the heart,
Since, proud, it calls the calling
manly, gives a guess
That, hopes that, makesbelieve, the men
must be no less; 5
It fancies, feigns, deems, dears the
artist after his art;
And fain will find as sterling all as
all is smart,
And scarlet wear the spirit of wár
thére express.
Mark Christ our King. He knows war, served this soldiering through;
He of all can handle a rope best. There
he bides in bliss 10
Now, and séeing somewhére some mán do
all that man can do,
For love he leans forth, needs his neck
must fall on, kiss,
And cry ‘O Christ-done deed! So
God-made-flesh does too:
Were I come o’er again’ cries Christ
‘it should be this’.