What does the last line of francis thompsons poem the. The son of catholic converts, as a boy he was initially educated for the priesthood. Full text of a study of francis thompsons hound of heaven. He spent three years on the streets of london, supporting himself with menial labour, becoming addicted to. The awakening of the domini canes, the dogs of god, meant that the hunt was up once more.
This title was inspired the 182line poem by francis thompson 18591907, an english poet. Francis thompson was a devout roman catholic who led a. Heaven and i wept together, and its sweet tears were salt with mortal mine. You are encouraged to pass it on to others, but please do not alter its contents or sell it for profit.
The hound of heaven is a classic poem that has been compared to shakespeare and also has been called the greatest ode in the english language. When he was 18, at his parents insistence, he entered owens college in manchester to follow in his fathers footsteps and study medicine. Against the red throb of its sunsetheart i laid my own to beat, and share commingling heat. But not by that, by that, was eased my human smart.
The hound of heaven poem by francis thompson poem hunter. By francis thompson 1890 i fled him, down the nights and down the days. It was way back in 1952 when i was 11 years old studying at st. At the behest of his father, a doctor, he entered medical school at the age of. In his poem the hound of heaven, the catholic poet francis thompson develops the theme of gods love ever in pursuit of man who tries to find consolation elsewhere. If youre like me, and youve just now stumbled upon the hound of heaven by francis thompson this book is for you. The lines of the poem as wel as some background information on the poet can be found here.
Editions of the hound of heaven by francis thompson. Feb 11, 2010 the lines of the poem as wel as some background information on the poet can be found here. Francis thompson the hound of heaven 1 i fled him, down the nights and down the days. Francis thompson 16 december 1859 november 1907 was an english poet and mystic. Francis thompson by thompson, francis seller mw books ltd. Few people have understood these parables better than francis thompson. The hound of heaven by francis thompson, paperback barnes.
The hound of heaven typifies an important characteristic of our god. The vagabond poet is a psychic traveler in the abstract realm of god, and god realization is his only concern. The hound of heaven by francis thompson free ebook. The hound of heaven wikisource, the free online library. The poem became famous and was the source of much of thompsons posthumous reputation.
It first appeared in poems, a collection of francis thompsons works published in 1893. The senior thompson thought it time for him to learn and issued orders to find employment of some remunerative kind. He pursues by his divine grace those upon whom he bestows his love. Yet god, said francis, graciously pursued him, as it were, as the hound of heaven.
It does a great job at introducing this great work of poetry and helping new readers come to grips with the message of the poem as well as the poet who penned it. A sermon preached in duke university chapel on september 16, 2007 by the revd dr sam wells. With frantic poignancy the devotee in the poet seeks the deliberate speed and reduces himself into an withering haggard. Richard burton reads the haunting poem the hound of heaven. Buy hound of heaven new edition by thompson, francis, young, jean isbn. The story francis thompson tells in his classic poem the hound of heaven works in exactly this waystirring our hearts with a. Chesterton considered thompson one of the great english poets, a shy. The hound in the poem is the lord who continually seeks the writer even though the writer keeps running from him. Watch our video of the popular song the king of heaven wants us. The hound of heaven by francis thompson 1890 hound of. I fled him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind.
In the mid 1800s francis thompson was in the throes of battle with truth. When it became clear his vocation lay elsewhere he was sent to train, like his father, as a physician. The hound of heaven by francis thompson 18591907 i fled him, down the nights and down the days. The hound of heaven by francis thompson 1890 hound of heaven. There once was a man who had two sons the simplicity of this famous parable belies some richly profound truths. The hound of heaven by francis thompson, read by richard burton duration. The poem was first published in thompsons first volume of poems in 1893. The story francis thompson tells in his classic poem the hound of heaven works in exactly this waystirring our hearts with a yearning we may not fully understand. Richard burton reads the haunting poem the hound of. It was included in the oxford book of english mystical verse 1917. At the behest of his father, a doctor, he entered medical school at the age of 18, but at 26 left home to pursue his talent as a writer and poet. With frantic poignancy the devotee in the poet seeks the deliberate speed. The hound of heaven by francis thompson read by tom o.
Sep 17, 2014 the hound of heaven by francis thompson, read by richard burton duration. A brilliant addicted poet, a tortured soul, writing of the genius, the godstuff, in us all. He was sent to a boarding school to prepare him for the priesthood. The hound of heaven by francis thompson sermonaudio. The hound of heaven explained the hound of heaven is a 182line poem written by english poet francis thompson 18591907. Francis thompson 18591907 francis thompson was born in northwest england in 1859. Oconnor, in a published study of the poem, says that in it francis thompson seems to sing, in verse, the thought of st. Eugene oneill could recite francis thompsons hound of heaven from memory, and j. Last week i wrote about the story of the prodigal son, and this weeks poem could just as well be about that story. Accordingly during the next two years francis served indifferently for brief periods as a clerk in the shop of a maker of surgical instruments and as a canvasser of an encyclopedia. This is a modern adaptation of the poem the hound of heaven written by francis thompson produced by emblem media llc. You drove love from yourself, you who drove it from me.
Apr 04, 2016 the hound of heaven is a 182line poem written by english poet francis thompson 18591907. Francis thompson was born into a welltodo catholic family in manchester, england, in 1859. The hound of heaven francis thompsons haunting poem. The happiness is in the seeking, the misery in the denial. The poem describes how god pursues us as sinners with patient, victorious, saving love paradoxically pictured as a blood hound hunts down a criminal, but here to save me. I can still remember the day i first heard the recitation of francis thompsons the hound of heaven. The hound of heaven a modern adaptation child of grace. Jul 09, 2012 eugene oneill could recite francis thompson s hound of heaven from memory, and j. The hound of heaven exhibit and related programs are supported by the r.
This morning id like to let a dead man preach to you. One of the most loved and possibly one of the more difficult christian poems to read and appreciate, the hound of heaven has been loved for over a century. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. What does the last line of francis thompsons poem the hound. The hound of heaven by francis thompson read by tom obedlam. The project gutenberg etext of the hound of heaven, by. One evening, our boardingmaster, reverend brother andrew michael, a christian brother of the order. The hound of heaven is a poem on profound devotion and burning anguish. This is a very famous poem that has had much influence. Aug 26, 2018 the hound of heaven typifies an important characteristic of our god. When he was 18, at his parents insistence, he entered owens college in manchester to follow. I highly recommend this kindle edition to anyone who seeks to be enriched by francis thompson s portrayal of a loving, omnipotent, and omniscient god who seeks after us as the hound of heaven. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
This electronic version was created for free distribution by philip a. Dedicated with permission to his eminence cardinal farley father oconors study of francis thompsons hound of heaven contains the complete poem, an interpretation, a mys tical application and parallel with the spiritual exercises of st. I fled him down the nights and down the days i fled him down the arches of the years i fled him down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind, and in the midst of tears i hid from him, and under running laughter. The fund was established in 2000 to support the care and conservation, exhibits and education of the public concerning the hound of heaven series by r. The hound of heaven is a 182line poem written by english poet francis thompson 18591907.
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