From the very shape of the lines—tapering like wings—you can tell this is a prayer about lifting off the ground. The speaker begins with humanity’s original wealth and how we foolishly lost it, shrinking into a “most poor” state. He sees his own life following the same downward path: a sad childhood, sickness, shame, a body grown “most thin.” But Easter changes the direction. He asks to rise with Christ as larks do, singing victory, so that the fall itself might somehow boost his flight. Suffering isn’t denied; instead, he wants to graft his broken wing onto Christ’s—“imp my wing on thine”—and let affliction advance him. The mood is humble and earnest, a quiet longing that gathers into a startling hope. He turns personal frailty into a plea for transformation, trusting that grace can reshape even our deepest losses into something that soars.
Easter Wings — Summary
Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, Though foolishly he lost the same, Decaying more and more, Till 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.