Both “Easter Wings” and “The Altar” by George Herbert offer compelling examples of how shapes created by words on a page can advance poetic meaning. In “The Altar,” a devout, yet afflicted being uses his faith in God to build a place of worship. Through his suffering, he is able to become closer to the Lord. This echoes a fundamental tenet of Christianity; however, I argue that “Easter Wings,” through its shape, focuses more on the aspect of salvation and therefore delivers a more powerful message on Christianity.
Upon first glance, the surge and swell of Herbert’s stanzas are easy to spot. Used to mirror meaning, the shape of the poem rises and falls like the wings of a bird. This aspect has many important implications. Firstly, The indentation of the stanza grows as the speaker solidifies his faith. The two words in line 6 turn to four in line 7 (“O let me rise”). The same transition occurs in lines 16 to 17. The repetition of pattern I believe alludes to the idea of rebirth. Second, the entire poem creates a metaphorical parallel to a bird. He speaks of “wings,” his ability to “sing,” and rising like a “lark.” This imagery somewhat connects the speaker to the Biblical dove of peace. Traditionally, the dove is used to show the end of suffering. It is the Holy Spirit that remains close to whomever keeps their faith in God.
By echoing the aspects of Christianity that relate to God’s promises of peace and rebirth, “Easter Wings” offers a more compelling advancement of Christianity. While “The Altar” focuses on using pain and suffering to become closer to God, it fails to mention the goodness of God and the promises of an afterlife free of agony.
Introduction to Poetry 