Look at the stars! look, look up at the skies! <br /> O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air! <br /> The bright boroughs, the circle-citadels there! <br /> Down in dim woods the diamond delves! the elves'-eyes! <br /> The grey lawns cold where gold, where quickgold lies! <br /> Wind-beat whitebeam! airy abeles set on a flare! <br /> Flake-doves sent floating forth at a farmyard scare! -- <br /> Ah well! it is all a purchase, all is a prize. <br /> <br /> Buy then! bid then! -- What? -- Prayer, patience, alms, vows. <br /> Look, look: a May-mess, like on orchard boughs! <br /> Look! March-bloom, like on mealed-with-yellow sallows! <br /> These are indeed the barn; withindoors house <br /> The shocks. This piece-bright paling shuts the spouse <br /> Christ home, Christ and his mother and all his hallows.<br /><br />Gerard Manley Hopkins<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-starlight-night/
