The Caress of God’s Breath in Gerard Manley Hopkins

Abstract

Breath may be intangible to the naked eye, but it caresses us in ways that we do not immediately recognise. The breath that we inhale reaches us from the bodies of other living beings. Similarly, we touch others when they inhale our exhalations. Thus, by our inhalations and exhalations, we caress, and are caressed by, others. We come to understand the caress of God's breath through Hopkins' idea of conversation, 'inspiration' and 'aspiration', sprung rhythm, and the kiss.