George Herbert’s “Easter Wings” is a celebrated masterpiece in the realm of English poetry, particularly known for its unique visual form and profound spiritual content. Published in his posthumous collection The Temple (1633), this Poem Easter Wings stands out as a prime example of concrete or shape poetry, where the physical layout of the lines on the page mirrors the poem’s central themes. Far more than just a visual trick, the shape is integral to understanding the poem’s journey of human fall, divine redemption, and spiritual ascent – a journey deeply resonant with the meaning of Easter.
Contents
To fully appreciate “Easter Wings,” it’s essential to see its intended form. The poem was originally printed sideways across two facing pages in The Temple, with the lines narrowing and then widening to create the distinct shape of a pair of wings. While often presented on a single page in modern anthologies, the visual effect remains striking, guiding the reader’s eye through the poem’s physical and thematic movement.
Image showing the original shaped layout of George Herbert's 'Easter Wings' poem from The Temple
Here is the text of the poem:
Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more,
Till he became
Most poore:
With thee
O let me rise
As larks, harmoniously,
And sing this day thy victories:
Then shall the fall further the flight in me.
My tender age in sorrow did beginne
And still with sicknesses and shame.
Thou didst so punish sinne,
That I became
Most thinne.
With thee
Let me combine,
And feel thy victorie:
For, if I imp my wing on thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.
Like many of Herbert’s poems, “Easter Wings” is dense with theological and personal meaning, presented with remarkable concision and intellectual wit characteristic of the Metaphysical poets. Understanding the meaning of Easter Wings poem requires careful attention to both its visual presentation and its layered language. The poem functions as a prayer, weaving together elements of praise, confession, and petition. It reflects on the state of humanity’s fall and the speaker’s personal struggles, ultimately seeking spiritual renewal through the power of Christ’s resurrection. This exploration of complex spiritual dynamics, found in many powerful works, mirrors the depth we might find when exploring themes like sad lovely poetry or profound expressions of human experience in verse.
Decoding the Structure and Symbolism
The striking shape of “Easter Wings” is its most immediate feature, but it’s also a key to its analysis. Each stanza begins with long lines, progressively shortening to a single, poignant word (“poore,” “thine”), and then widening again. This movement perfectly visualizes the poem’s central theme: the descent of humanity (and the speaker) through sin, loss, and affliction, followed by an ascent towards spiritual victory and union with God.
Stanza 1: The Fall of Man and the Hope of Resurrection
The first stanza focuses on the general state of humanity, starting with creation when man was in “wealth and store.” The narrowing lines trace the tragic loss of this state (“foolishly he lost the same”), leading to decay and becoming “Most poore.” This represents the Fall from grace, the spiritual impoverishment resulting from sin.
Just as the lines turn upwards, the poem shifts from lament to hope. The speaker addresses the Lord directly (“With thee”), petitioning to rise “As larks, harmoniously.” The lark, known for its joyful ascent while singing, becomes a powerful metaphor for spiritual flight and praise. The lines widen as this hope grows, culminating in the triumphant declaration: “Then shall the fall further the flight in me.” This paradoxical statement is central to the poem’s Christian theme: the very experience of the Fall, of hitting rock bottom (“most poore”), becomes the necessary condition for upward flight, facilitated by Christ’s victory on Easter. The descent prepares the way for the ascent.
Stanza 2: Personal Struggle and Divine Union
The second stanza narrows the focus to the speaker’s personal experience. His life began in “sorrow,” marked by “sicknesses and shame.” This mirrors the universal fall described in the first stanza but brings it into the realm of personal suffering and awareness of sin. The punishment for sin leads to becoming “Most thinne,” suggesting physical and spiritual emaciation or frailty – another descent.
Again, at the narrowest point (“With thee”), the lines and the spirit turn upwards. The speaker petitions, “Let me combine,” expressing a deep desire for union with God and the power of “thy victorie.” The culminating image is both vivid and technical: “For, if I imp my wing on thine, / Affliction shall advance the flight in me.” To “imp” is a term from falconry, meaning to graft new feathers onto a damaged wing to restore its ability to fly. Here, the speaker’s broken, afflicted “wing” (representing his fallen or weakened spiritual state) can only be repaired by being joined with Christ’s perfect, victorious “wing.” This union is the source of strength and allows affliction itself to become a catalyst for spiritual advancement. Exploring the nuances of personal struggle and hope found in such verse adds richness to our understanding of poetry’s capacity to capture complex human emotions, much like reading a beautiful poem of love story captures the complexities of romance.
Themes, Devices, and Deeper Meaning
Beyond its shape, “Easter Wings” employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message:
- Metaphor: The central metaphors of “wings” and “flight” represent spiritual capacity, aspiration, and ascent. The “lark” symbolizes joyful, harmonious rising. The act of “imping” is a striking metaphor for spiritual restoration through Christ’s grace.
- Antithesis/Paradox: The poem thrives on the reconciliation of opposites: “fall” furthering “flight,” “affliction” advancing “flight.” This reflects the core Christian paradox that strength is found in weakness, and life comes through death (specifically, Christ’s death and resurrection).
- Biblical Allusion: The first stanza alludes to the creation and Fall of Man (Genesis 1-3). There are potential allusions to passages about spiritual strength and flight, such as Isaiah 40:31 (“they shall mount up with wings as eagles”) and Malachi 4:2 (“the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings”).
- Rhyme Scheme and Meter: Herbert uses an intricate rhyme scheme (ababa cdcdc in stanza 1; ebebe cfcfc in stanza 2) and varies the line length dramatically to create the shape. The interlocking rhymes (e.g., lines 2 and 12, 4 and 14, 6 and 16) also connect the universal theme of the first stanza with the personal experience of the second. The shortening lines physically enact the decay and thinning, while the lengthening lines embody the rising and expanding hope.
- Prayer: The entire poem functions as a direct address to God, moving through praise for creation, confession of human failure, and earnest petition for grace and union. This direct, personal address is a hallmark of Herbert’s devotional poetry.
The poem’s movement is not just physical on the page, but also temporal and spiritual. It moves from the historical past (Creation, Fall) to the speaker’s personal past (tender age, sorrow) to the present moment of prayer and the anticipated future of spiritual flight. The “this day” mentioned in both stanzas links the speaker’s petition to the ongoing power and significance of the Easter event.
George Herbert: The Poet of “The Temple”
Understanding the poet provides crucial context for the poem Easter Wings by George Herbert. Born in 1593, Herbert was a Welsh-born poet, orator, and Anglican priest. Educated at Cambridge, where he became the University’s Public Orator, he seemed destined for a political career. However, after taking holy orders, he dedicated his life to pastoral ministry, becoming the rector of Bemerton church near Salisbury in 1630. His volume The Temple is a collection of religious poems that trace the spiritual life of a Christian soul from doubt and struggle to faith and peace.
Handwritten copy of the first stanza of George Herbert's 'Easter Wings' poem
Herbert’s poetry is known for its precision, intellectual depth, use of surprising imagery (often drawn from everyday life or specific trades like falconry), and metrical ingenuity, including his experiments with shape poems. His work, along with contemporaries like John Donne, is categorized as Metaphysical poetry, characterized by its use of conceits (extended metaphors), exploration of complex themes often relating to faith, love, and mortality, and a colloquial yet intellectual tone. While known for profound religious verse, the artistry and emotional resonance in his work offer insights valuable to anyone who appreciates thoughtful verse, perhaps even drawing parallels to the careful crafting seen in nice love poems or eloquent expressions of feeling.
As a priest, Herbert was deeply devoted to his parishioners, providing spiritual and practical care. His brief time as a country parson was marked by intense commitment to his calling, a commitment that shines through in the devotional sincerity of his poetry. He died relatively young, at age 39, leaving behind a legacy as one of England’s most significant religious poets.
Memorial window depicting George Herbert as a priest
While “Easter Wings” is one of his most visually recognizable works, Herbert’s influence extends beyond the page. Several of his poems, though not “Easter Wings,” have been set to music, including by composers like Ralph Vaughan Williams in his Five Mystical Songs. This demonstrates the enduring musicality and spiritual power of Herbert’s words.
Conclusion
George Herbert’s “Easter Wings” is a poem that demands to be seen as well as read. Its concrete form is not merely decorative but is deeply interwoven with its themes of human failing and divine lifting. Through intricate structure, powerful metaphors, and sincere prayer, the poem charts a spiritual journey from the depths of poverty and affliction to the soaring heights of resurrection and union with Christ. It is a testament to the transformative power of faith and the enduring significance of the Easter message. The ability of poetry to capture such profound transformations and complex emotions highlights the versatility of the art form, whether exploring faith as Herbert does, or the depths of feeling in verses like loving you love poems. “Easter Wings” remains a vibrant example of how form and content can unite to create a truly unforgettable poetic experience.