Gerard Manley Hopkins voices a personal prayer of return and reliance. The speaker pictures himself as a fountain that flows all day from God’s hand, a tiny mote swayed in a mighty glow—small, dependent, yet held within God’s presence. He blesses what he knows of God, feeling the weight of divine attention on his life and catching glimpses of holiness. He admits he once hid, sinned, and sowed the wind; now he repents and asks for reconciliation. Though he calls himself bad, he clings to being God’s child and senses that God’s vast power is somehow mild, even tender. Looking ahead, he wants to fulfil his purpose and pay his debt. The final turn is striking: he recognizes that God’s justice requires him to show mercy from his heart to every other person—his brother, his counterpart. The mood is penitent yet hopeful, shot through with wonder at a God both immense and gentle.
Thee, God, I Come from — Summary
Thee, God, I come from, to thee go, All day long I like fountain flow From thy hand out, swayed about Mote-like in thy mighty glow.
What I know of thee I bless, As acknowledging thy stress On my being and as seeing Something of thy holiness.
Once I turned from thee and hid, Bound on what thou hadst forbid; Sow the wind I would; I sinned: I repent of what I did.
Bad I am, but yet thy child. Father, be thou reconciled. Spare thou me, since I see With thy might that thou art mild.
I have life before me still And thy purpose to fulfil; Yea a debt to pay thee yet: Help me, sir, and so I will.
But thou bidst, and just thou art, Me shew mercy from my heart Towards my brother, every other Man my mate and counterpart. . . . . . . . .