To his Watch

Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889)

Mortal my mate, bearing my rock-a-heartWarm beat with cold beat company, shall IEarlier or you fail at our force, and lieThe ruins of, rifled, once a world of art?The telling time our task is; time's some part,Not all, but we were framed to fail and die—One spell and well that one. There, ah therebyIs comfort's carol of all or woe's worst smart.

Field-flown the departed day no morning bringsSaying 'This was yours' with her, but new one, worse.And then that last and shortest...