Gerald Manley Hopkins Never Road a Bike

Dreamt whilst dawdling at the back of a ride. The day was lovely and sunny but we had gone up a steep footpath which recent rain had left very muddy. At the top, with a lovely view of the valley, one householder had an excerpt from a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem on their gate. Having read up on Gerard Manley Hopkins - a priest and poet whose poems frequently featured the glories of the natural world - that poem required a response.

Gerard Manley Hopkins never rode a bike

At least not up this lane

With wheels sliding, as the mud wrapped around his chain

No, Gerard Manley Hopkins never rode a bike

Still there's one thing on which we would agree

That is, Gerard Manley Hopkins and me

Here amongst nature's glory

Amongst its green and lovely trees

Gazing across this valley

Is such a wondrous place to be

Gerard Manley Hopkins and me.