Revisiana

[larryhammer]

From the endpapers of the Ricks Oxford Book of English Verse, we learn that in manuscript Hopkins edited

Thou art indeed just, were I to contend
With thee; but, Lord, so what I speak is just.

to

Thou art indeed just, Lord, if I contend
With thee; but, sir, so what I plead is just.

Wow. From limp to taut, soft to sharp, tentative to driving, merely living to lively, all with just three small strokes. Half of that is from the first line's rhythm, half from pleading specificity. You can unpack several lessons on writing in any form from just that distych.

---L.