"Spring" by Gerard Manley Hopkins has been interpreted in a few different ways, but I believe there is one definite tone to his poem. In the beginning of the poem the tone is that of thoughtfulness, which is regarding the "new life" of children, or their innocence. The first line of the poem, "Nothing is so beautiful as spring," begins the speaker's reflection of the "richness" of youthful innocence and lack of sin. The tone later changes into that of desire and yearning. This is achieved mainly through the last stanza of the poem:
"Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
Most, O maid's child, thy choice and worthy the winning."
These concluding lines serve as a plea to Christ to keep the "beauty" of youthful innocence and new life before they become "sour with sinning". The speaker recognizes the sinful changes that develop over time and prays to Christ that he can spare children of this sin and keep the beauty of the "spring" alive.
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