this is one of the poems, which frequently link and intertwine the two. Grigson once wrote "this poet delighted in the observation and grasping of nature". The poem starts with an extremely dramatic opening first line "The world...God". This immediately draws the reader into the poem and the reader is instantly intrigued to carry on with the remaining lines of the poem. The world is being compared with the splendour of God. It is emphasising the power of God. When you survey the power of the world and what humans are capable of doing, it makes God's importance seem even more superior. "It will flame out" - this is a metaphor and the image suggests emphasis on the flame, which is another powerful force, which can be unstoppable. The poem compares God's greatness to the extraction of olive oil, which is precious. "Why...rod?" The poet asks the inevitable question - if God is as powerful and great why does man not follow him? There is an onomatopoeic effect with the word 'trod', which is repeated several times. Also the words 'trod' and 'rod' from the end of the above line rhyme as with many other lines through the poem. Hopkins considered that a small number of rhyming sounds make a greater impact in aural terms. He thought that restricting rhymes helped keep expression as economical as possible. The repetition in line six emphasises the generations, also it suggests that man is oblivious to the harm he is having on the environment for material advantage. From this we can appreciate how forward thinking Hopkins was as these are concerns that are dominant in modern times.
             The word 'smeared' 'seared' and 'bleared' are used and these are words, which are all very similar sounding. The word toil at the end of the line denotes the destruction that has been placed on nature. It suggests that man has placed his stamp on natur...