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Sur Posted 23 years ago

Send my roots rain again...............

Hello Everyone,

Some time back i came accross a poem, thought I can share with you all.

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by Gerard Manley Hopkins, a Jesuit Priest-Poet in his poem,

"Thou art indeed just Lord, if I contend with Thee".


Thou art indeed just Lord if I contend with Thee.
But why do sinners' ways prosper
while all my endeavour end in failure and frustration.
Haven't I spent the whole of my life in your service?
Then why is this frustration to me?

If you are my enemy,
I can understand why you make my life so difficult.
But you are my friend and to understand
a friend making life difficult is beyond myself.

While even the plants around me are
full of leaves and flowers and fruits,
I bear nothing.
The birds build their nests but I don’t build anything.
I have become time's eunuch.

But for all that,
I will not
give up my faith in you.
My only prayer to you is
to send my roots rain again.

***
any comments ? there will be many, but what i need is : your feelings more then 'critical' comments, especially on the title.

With love

Sur

  

Top answer

Thou art indeed just Lord if I contend with Thee. But why do sinners' ways prosper while all my endeavour end in failure and frustration. Haven't I spent the whole of my life in your service?

  • Thou art indeed just Lord if I contend with Thee.
  • But why do sinners' ways prosper while all my endeavour end in failure and frustration.
  • Haven't I spent the whole of my life in your service?
  • Then why is this frustration to me?
  • If you are my enemy, I can understand why you make my life so difficult.
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4 Answers
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Thou art indeed just Lord if I contend with Thee.
But why do sinners' ways prosper
while all my endeavour end in failure and frustration.
Haven't I spent the whole of my life in your service?
Then why is this frustration to me?

If you are my enemy,
I can understand why you make my life so difficult.
But you are my friend and to understand
a fri
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Sur, I love this poem. I think I even prefer the last two verses. How could this poem slip my mind?
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Yeah that really strikes a chord, especially the Subject line
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Nice poem, very nice ending.

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