Literature/Gerard Manley Hopkins
Spring and Fall
Gerard Manley Hopkins, 1880
Gerard Manley Hopkins's poem addressed to a young child, Margaret, who weeps at the falling of the autumn leaves.
to a young child
Márgarét, are you gríevingOver Goldengrove unleaving?Leáves, líke the things of man, youWith your fresh thoughts care for, can you?Áh! ás the heart grows olderIt will come to such sights colderBy and by, nor spare a sighThough worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;And yet you wíll weep and know why.Now no matter, child, the name:Sórrow’s spríngs áre the same.Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressedWhat heart heard of, ghost guessed:It is the blight man was born for,It is Margaret you mourn for.