As Kingfishers Catch Fire

As Kingfishers Catch Fire
By Gerard Manley Hopkins

As kingfishers catch fire, dragonflies draw flame; 
   As tumbled over rim in roundy wells 
   Stones ring; like each tucked string tells, each hung bell's
Bow swung finds tongue to fling out broad its name; 
Each mortal thing does one thing and the same: 
   Deals out that being indoors each one dwells; 
   Selves -- goes itself; myself it speaks and spells, 
 Crying What I do is me: for that I came.

 I say more: the just man justices; 
     Keeps grace: that keeps all his goings graces; 
 Acts in God's eye what in God's eye he is -- 
     Christ. For Christ plays in ten thousand places, 
 Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his 
    To the Father through the features of men's faces.

This work is in the public domain. Published 1918, presumed written 1879-1882