“EASTER WINGS”: George Herbert on the Resurrection
by Stephen Noll, Contending Anglican:
On Easter morning, a grieving but credulous Mary Magdalene saw two Angels seated in the tomb, where the body of Jesus had lain (John 20:12). I conclude my meditations with George Herbert’s fine Easter poem:
EASTER WINGS
Lord, who created man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more
Until he became
Most poor.
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 begin
And still with sicknesses and shame.
Thou didst so punish sin,
That I became
Most thin.
With thee
Let me combine,
And feel this day thy victory:
For, if I *imp my wing on thine,
Affliction shall advance the flight in me.
*To “imp” means to “graft” feathers onto an injured falcon’s wing.
For my oral rendition of the poem, listen here:
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