Gerard Manley Hopkins

Here you will find the Poem Harry Ploughman of poet Gerard Manley Hopkins

Harry Ploughman

Hard as hurdle arms, with a broth of goldish flue
Breathed round; the rack of ribs; the scooped flank; lank
Rope-over thigh; knee-nave; and barrelled shank? 
Head and foot, shoulder and shank? 
By a grey eye?s heed steered well, one crew, fall to;
Stand at stress. Each limb?s barrowy brawn, his thew 
That onewhere curded, onewhere sucked or sank? 
Soared or sank?, 
Though as a beechbole firm, finds his, as at a roll-call, rank
And features, in flesh, what deed he each must do?
His sinew-service where do. 

He leans to it, Harry bends, look. Back, elbow, and liquid waist 
In him, all quail to the wallowing o? the plough: ?s cheek crimsons; curls
Wag or crossbridle, in a wind lifted, windlaced? 
See his wind- lilylocks -laced;
Churlsgrace, too, child of Amansstrength, how it hangs or hurls 
Them?broad in bluff hide his frowning feet lashed! raced 
With, along them, cragiron under and cold furls? 
With-a-fountain?s shining-shot furls.