The Hound of Heaven

I want to share a passage from a poem I recently revisited. Its haunting qualities draw me to read it often.

The poem, titled "The Hound of Heaven" was written by English poet Francis Thompson (1859-1907) and first published in 1893. C.S. Lewis, famous for The Chronicles of Narnia and other notable works, used it to describe the persistent sensation of being pursued by God.

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter.

From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbéd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat—and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet—

The full text of the poem can be found here.

Francis Thompson lived in Victorian London, England. An opium addict and homeless, he lived aimlessly, spending many years in the underbelly of London in poverty. Although I may not be able to relate to the specific circumstances that led Francis to write this jewel of a poem, I'm all too aware of that strong feeling of evading God while knowing He was always present.

What do you think of the poem? What must that feeling of being pursued by God have felt like for Francis? Was he a genius? I'm curious. Can you relate to any aspect of the poem or indeed the poet's experience? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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