"The Windhover," a sonnet dedicated to "Christ Our Lord," captures the poet's admiration for a falcon's flight, weaving a tapestry of imagery, metaphor, and innovative rhythm. Composed in 1877, Gerard Manley Hopkins's work exemplifies his bold experimentation with sound and meter. Through this piece, Hopkins connects the falcon's dive with spiritual themes, including Christ's incarnation and sacrifice.

Morning Encounter and Visionary Flight

As dawn breaks, the poet recounts a morning stroll where his gaze is captivated by a falcon soaring gracefully through the sky. In the octave, Hopkins transitions to the present, detailing a sudden visionary experience as he watches the falcon dive with purpose. The imagery intensifies around the word “buckle,” which encompasses multiple meanings: the falcon tucking its wings for a dive, preparing for battle, and even the act of fastening. This multifaceted word choice opens up interpretations of strength, vulnerability, and spiritual preparation, leading readers into a deeper engagement with the poem.

Fire and the Knight

As the falcon plunges, it is enveloped in a fiery brilliance, making it seem exponentially more beautiful and perilous. The poet addresses the bird as "Oh my chevalier," drawing a parallel between the falcon and a knight donning armor for combat. This metaphor extends to Christ, suggesting his incarnation as a divine battle against sin. Just as a knight rescues the oppressed, Christ's mission is portrayed as a benevolent quest to save humanity, highlighting the poem's underlying spiritual narrative.

Divine Descent and Human Ascent

The falcon's dive mirrors Christ's descent from divinity to humanity, a move depicted as both lovely and formidable. The dive symbolizes grace, a force that seeks to uplift humanity from sin. Yet, Hopkins acknowledges the inherent danger of such grace, as it challenges individuals to transform their lives radically. The poet links this concept to Christ's own descent into the grave, symbolizing the shared human experience of death and the promise of resurrection. The falcon's rise after its dive parallels Christ's resurrection, offering hope of eternal life to those who embrace divine grace.

Embracing the Ordinary

In the sonnet's closing lines, the poet humorously downplays his vision by turning to everyday images like a shining plow or glowing coals. Despite the shift to mundane comparisons, these symbols echo the falcon's fiery descent. A plow digging into the earth suggests renewal, and the glowing coals evoke Christ's sacrifice and resurrection. Through these images, Hopkins underscores the profound in the ordinary, infusing even simple acts with spiritual significance.

Revolutionizing Rhythm

Hopkins's "The Windhover" stands out for its innovative rhythmic structure, which he termed "sprung rhythm." Departing from traditional syllabic constraints, Hopkins crafted a poem that maintains five accented syllables per line, inviting varied interpretations in performance. By focusing on accented syllables and omitting strict adherence to iambic pentameter, Hopkins allows the poem to breathe rhythmically, creating an energized, auditory experience.

Oral Performance and Meter

The sonnet's rhythmic complexity reflects Hopkins's belief that poetry is meant to be heard. His strategic use of alliteration guides readers toward accentuation, enhancing the poem's musicality. The opening lines, devoid of end-stopped punctuation until "ecstasy," are crafted to induce breathlessness, mirroring the exhilaration of the windhover's flight. This intentional placement of pauses reinforces the poem's emotional and spiritual impact.

Sound as Substance

Hopkins's meticulous attention to rhythm and sound, often seen as minor elements, underscores their integral role in the poem's success. The abundance of alliteration and accent marks suggests a deliberate effort to blend sound with meaning. Each element of rhythm contributes to the poem's narrative arc and emotional resonance. The breathless opening culminating in "ecstasy" exemplifies Hopkins's skillful orchestration of form and content, drawing the reader into the poem's vivid, transformative vision.