The Furl of Fresh-Leaved Dogrose

Listen to:

The Furl of Fresh-Leaved Dogrose (1:13)

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

performed by Bob Gonzalez, rhapsode

The furl of fresh-leaved dogrose down

His cheeks the forth-and-flaunting sun

Had swarthed about with lion-brown

     Before the Spring was done.

His locks like all a ravel-rope's-end,

   With hempen strands in spray--

Fallow, foam-fallow, hanks--fall'n off their ranks,

   Swung down at a disarray.

Or like a juicy and jostling shock

   Of bluebells sheaved in May

Or wind-long fleeces on the flock

   A day off shearing day.

Then over his turnéd temples--here--

   Was a rose, or, failing that,

Rough-Robin or five-lipped campion clear

   For a beauty-bow to his hat,

And the sunlight sidled, like dewdrops, like dandled

     diamonds

Through the sieve of the straw of the plait.