Worlds of Wanwood

[intertext]

The dogs and I went for a walk this afternoon in one of my favourite parks, Mt. Doug. It has one of the few substantial stands locally of maple trees, so the leaves are lovely in the fall, even though it doesn't get cold enough here even at night for the real colour that you get in the East. Now, though, most of the leaves have fallen, and I could'nt help thinking of Hopkins. I'm going to be teaching that poem in a few weeks, so I think I may go back later this weekend with my camera and a tripod to try to get a good illustrative shot of the "worlds of wanwood" lying "leafmeal."

I've been part of a group interviewing new or returning term (adjunct) instructors for the college, and some of the interviews have been quite inspiring. We ask candidates to do a ten minute "sample lesson," and two or three of them were really good, giving me ideas for my own practice. I love it when that happens. I think that's why I feel more inspired than usual to get a photo to illustrate Hopkins.

Comments

[gillo]

I had to study Hopkins when I was 16, and it left me with an abiding distaste for him - but I do make an exception for "Spring and Fall"

I deeply detested "Wreck of the Deutschland".

[intertext.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's a shame. I adore Hopkins. Even "The Wreck of the Deutschland," although it's a bit over the top. I did a paper once comparing it, and Hopkins' view of God and nature, with Hardy's poem about the Titanic. But re Hopkins, how can you not absolutely faint with pleasure at "Windhover" or "Kingfishers Catch Fire" or "Duns Scotus' Oxford"?