The Hound of Heaven by Francis Thompson

Francis Thompson
1859-1907

I am presently reading the book, "Jesus among other Gods" by Ravi Zacharias and came across this poem by Francis Thompson. I would recommend that you add this book to your reading list. Bro. Zacharias is an extraordinarily brilliant man, what a soldier for Christ and Christendom! He introduces the reader to the poem as following,

"Readers of English poetry will recall the turbulent life of Francis Thompson.  His father longed for him to study at Oxford, but Francis lost his way in drugs and failed to make the grade on more than one occasion.  Those who knew him knew that inside was a slumbering genius, if only his life could be rescued.

When Francis Thompson finally succumbed to the pursuing Christ, he penned his immortal 'Hound of Heaven,' describing the years behind the moment of transaction:

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
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
Down titanic glooms of chasmed fears
 From those strong feet that followed, that followed after
 For though I knew His love that followed
 Yet I was sore adread
 Lest having Him I  have naught else beside.
All that I took from thee I did but take
 Not for thy harms
But just that thou might'st seek it in m arms.
All which thy child's mistake fancies are lost
I have stored for thee at home:
"Rise, clasp my hand, and come."
Halts by me that footfall:
is my gloom after all,
shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly.
Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest,
 I am he whom thou seekest!
Thou dravest love from thee, that dravest me."

PS: this is the short version of the poem. The original is a 182 line poem.