In the second stanza, Hopkins speaks of the aftermath of the destruction. The poet begins this verse by using strong words such as “hew” and “delve” to describe our harsh actions upon the earth, for our “country is so tender” that even harming it a little can permanently alter it. Hopkins once again uses strong words and internal rhyme, “hack and rack”, as well as alliteration, “growing green”, to illustrate and pronounce this idea. The poet offers a personification of the earth by presenting strong images of its given human characteristics, when he says that the earth is so “tender” and “her being so slender”. Hopkins advances to present an analogy between the earth and the eye, a vital organ whose system is powerful but delicate, by displaying the painful image of the pricking of an eyeball, which indicates that when the trees disappear from our sight, the effects are as tragic as the loss of our own vision. Here, Hopkins makes it clear that the consequence of this is that we are just as much damaged as the landscape, because not only will the landscape no longer be present, but we will no longer be able to see it, as if it was a punishment for our actions. This evokes that for Hopkins, the natural world is a reflection of God, thus explaining his strong reaction towards the destruction.
The poet proceeds to state that even when we attempt to “mend her we end her”, and that as a result of this, “after-comers” will not have an idea of the beauties which earth held beforehand since they are now lost forever. In line 20, Hopkins explains how even the least damage, “only ten or twelve strokes”, can alter it irrevocably, which emphasises the fragility of the earth. The poet uses the uncommon term “únselve” to accentuate the idea of the whole countryside being ruined. In the last three lines of the poem however, the poet changes its sprung rhythm as the repetition of phrases have varied. Here, Hopkins chooses to present a more chant-like tone, by repeating the phrase “sweet especial rural scene”, to create an emphasis on the poet’s nostalgic tone.
Overall, throughout this poem, Hopkins attempts to portray the importance of nature by presenting the tragic situation of the destruction of a landscape. While describing the beauty of the aspens, Hopkins pays special attention to the way they interact with and affect the atmosphere around them, which provides us with elaborate imagery and a sensitive tone regarding the poems topic. What I am particularly fond of in this poem is how Hopkins modifies and invents words to create interesting poetic figures, for example when he used the word “dandled” instead of “dangled” just to create an internal rhyme. In my personal opinion however, I find it most interesting how Hopkins is not only speaking of a destroyed landscape which he had known since his early life, but also making a more general statement about the way in which humans interact with the environment, predominantly nature. We are able to see that his greatest concern is how humans are too greedy to be aware of the implications of their actions, and will eventually destroy all of nature without realising how much it will affect them.
