Easter Wings
The poem "Easter Wings" by George Herbert is a poem full
of deep imagery not only in its words but also in the visual
structure of the stanzas. In Herbert's poem why does he use
a shape poem? Because he wanted this poem to have many
different levels and meanings. Herbert also used huge
amounts of mental imagery so that the reader can find new
truths and meanings each time he or she reads it. The poem
tells of the poets desire to fly with Christ as a result of Jesus'
sacrifice, death and resurrection. The argument as to the
proper presentation of this poem is easily explained with the
help of the poet's address to the "Lord" in the opening line of
the first page in the original text. Because this poem is
actually a work within a work with many hidden meanings
and suggestions. To fully understand it all, one must examine
the poem as a whole in greater detail. The poet is the
obvious speaker in the poem due to the common use of "I"
and "me" through out the poem. The audience is also
revealed in the first line of the 1634 edition of the poem with
the use of the word "Lord"; meaning the Christian Savior,
Jesus Christ who rose from the dead. But there is question
as to where the poem truly begins. This is due to the splitting
of the poem onto two separate pages, and then turned ninety
degrees so it must be read sideways. This is done on
purpose to invoke the vision of wings on both pages. This
fact must be considered when evaluating where it begins and
whether it is in fact two poems instead of one larger one.
"Lord, who createth man in wealth and store" is the
beginning of this poem, helping to immediately establish the
audience in the first word. As well, this fact help to reveal
that this poem is also a prayer of Herbert's. The appropriate
layout of the poem is still the "winged" look necessary for the
full impact of the imagery. It is the imagery in this poem that
deserves special notice as it gives a much deeper
understanding of what
of deep imagery not only in its words but also in the visual
structure of the stanzas. In Herbert's poem why does he use
a shape poem? Because he wanted this poem to have many
different levels and meanings. Herbert also used huge
amounts of mental imagery so that the reader can find new
truths and meanings each time he or she reads it. The poem
tells of the poets desire to fly with Christ as a result of Jesus'
sacrifice, death and resurrection. The argument as to the
proper presentation of this poem is easily explained with the
help of the poet's address to the "Lord" in the opening line of
the first page in the original text. Because this poem is
actually a work within a work with many hidden meanings
and suggestions. To fully understand it all, one must examine
the poem as a whole in greater detail. The poet is the
obvious speaker in the poem due to the common use of "I"
and "me" through out the poem. The audience is also
revealed in the first line of the 1634 edition of the poem with
the use of the word "Lord"; meaning the Christian Savior,
Jesus Christ who rose from the dead. But there is question
as to where the poem truly begins. This is due to the splitting
of the poem onto two separate pages, and then turned ninety
degrees so it must be read sideways. This is done on
purpose to invoke the vision of wings on both pages. This
fact must be considered when evaluating where it begins and
whether it is in fact two poems instead of one larger one.
"Lord, who createth man in wealth and store" is the
beginning of this poem, helping to immediately establish the
audience in the first word. As well, this fact help to reveal
that this poem is also a prayer of Herbert's. The appropriate
layout of the poem is still the "winged" look necessary for the
full impact of the imagery. It is the imagery in this poem that
deserves special notice as it gives a much deeper
understanding of what