In Georgia Douglas Johnson’s short lyric, the speaker imagines lifting off the ground and looking down at the things that bind her. From that height, those burdens no longer have the same power; she can beat her wings in active flight or simply rest, tranquil. The act of rising is both physical and spiritual: it feels like leaving behind everyday weight. Strength does not come as struggle or noise but in waves, “like incense,” as if it is something fragrant, sacred, and quiet. There is a sense of both action and stillness — flying or resting — which makes the freedom feel complete. The repeated line about rising above the earth gives the poem a calm, meditative rhythm, and the speaker’s mood is one of release rather than resentment. She is not fighting her constraints so much as rising above them, seeing them from a freer place. The overall mood is serene, airy, and quietly empowered.
When I Rise Up — Summary
When I rise above the earth, And look down on the things that fetter me, I beat my wings upon the air. Or tranquil lie,
Surge after surge of potent strength Like incense comes to me When I rise up above the earth And look down upon the things that fetter me.