Quotes from work
The Hound of Heaven

"The Hound of Heaven" is a 182-line poem written by English poet Francis Thompson . The poem became famous and was the source of much of Thompson's posthumous reputation. The poem was first published in Thompson's first volume of poems in 1893. It was included in the Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse . Thompson's work was praised by G. K. Chesterton, and it was also an influence on J. R. R. Tolkien, who presented a paper on Thompson in 1914.This Christian poem has been described as follows:

“I said to Dawn: Be sudden—to Eve: Be soon.”

Francis Thompson The Hound of Heaven

St. 2.
The Hound of Heaven (1893)

“Across the margent of the world I fled,
And troubled the gold gateways of the stars,
Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars:
Fretted to dulcet jars
And silvern chatter the pale ports o’ the moon.”

Francis Thompson The Hound of Heaven

St. 2.
The Hound of Heaven (1893)

“But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbéd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
"All things betray thee, who betrayest Me."”

Francis Thompson The Hound of Heaven

St. 1.
The Hound of Heaven (1893)

“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 mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.”

Francis Thompson The Hound of Heaven

St. 1.
The Hound of Heaven (1893)