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About this quote

What does it mean?
Vivid description of a falcon flying with intense energy and joy.
In plain terms
A falcon flies high with great energy and happiness.
What can you take from it?
Observe nature with intense attention.

Where it applies

  • nature writing
  • bird watching
  • poetic description

Putting it to work

  • describe motion vividly
  • focus on living energy

Questions to consider

  • What do you notice in nature?
  • How do you describe movement?

Another view

The language is dense and may obscure the image.

More from Gerard Manley Hopkins

  1. Nothing is so beautiful as Spring- When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush Through the echoing…

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  2. Glory be to God for dappled things- For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow; For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim.

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  3. Look at the stars! look, look up at the skies! O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air!

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