Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Airman's Virtue" by William Meredith is a contemplative poem that explores the themes of ambition, hubris, and the inevitable fall that often follows. The poem draws on the imagery of flight and the natural elements, using these metaphors to reflect on the human condition, particularly the tension between striving for greatness and the limitations imposed by nature and fate.

The poem acknowledges George Herbert, a renowned 17th-century metaphysical poet. George Herbert was known for his religious poetry, which often explored themes of faith, humility, and the human relationship with God.  This signals a poetic engagement with Herbert's themes and style, offering a modern meditation on the timeless questions of human striving, humility, and the recognition of forces greater than oneself.

The poem opens with an invocation of a "High plane for whom the winds incline," suggesting a being or entity that soars above, free from the constraints of the earth. The phrase "Who own but to your own recall" indicates a sense of autonomy and self-reliance, perhaps alluding to the human desire for independence and control. However, the line "There is a flaw in your design / For you must fall" introduces a note of inevitability, highlighting a critical flaw in this quest for elevation. Despite the plane's height and freedom, it is ultimately destined to descend, suggesting a natural limit to ambition or pride.

The second stanza shifts focus to a "High cloud whose proud and angry stuff / Rose up in heat against earth's thrall." Here, the cloud symbolizes resistance and defiance against earthly limitations, embodying a sense of rebellion and anger. The use of "heat" conveys passion and intensity, while "earth's thrall" suggests the burdens or constraints of worldly existence. Yet, the phrase "The nodding law has time enough / To wait your fall" implies that natural laws, represented as a patient and inevitable force, will eventually bring the cloud down. This stanza reinforces the theme of hubris and the inescapable consequences of defying natural limits.

The third stanza addresses the "High sky, full of high shapes and vapors," which represents the lofty aspirations and transient nature of human endeavors. The imagery of "torch and tapers" refers to lights or beacons, perhaps symbolizing guidance, hope, or human achievements. The declaration "It is written that your torch and tapers / Headlong shall fall" underscores the transient and impermanent nature of these high aspirations. The phrase "It is written" suggests a predetermined fate, reinforcing the idea that despite our efforts, all things are subject to decline and fall.

The final stanza introduces a different perspective, focusing on the "outward-aching soul" that can "hold in high disdain these ties." This line suggests a soul that yearns for something beyond the material world, rejecting earthly bonds and limitations. The desire to "fix on a farther pole" implies an aspiration towards higher, perhaps spiritual or idealistic, goals. The phrase "Will sheerly rise" conveys a sense of pure, unencumbered ascent, contrasting with the earlier imagery of inevitable descent.

Meredith's use of flight-related imagery, such as planes, clouds, and the sky, serves as a metaphor for human ambition and the pursuit of lofty goals. The poem explores the tension between the desire to transcend earthly limitations and the inevitability of falling back to reality. The "Airman's Virtue" lies in recognizing this tension and striving for a balance between aspiration and acceptance of human limitations.

The poem's structure, with its repeated emphasis on falling, serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of ascent and descent, success and failure. It reflects a philosophical meditation on the human condition, where the pursuit of greatness is tempered by the recognition of inherent flaws and limitations.

In "Airman's Virtue," William Meredith delves into the complex interplay between ambition and humility. The poem suggests that while striving for greatness is an inherent part of the human spirit, it is also essential to acknowledge the forces that ultimately bring us back to earth. The final lines offer a nuanced perspective, proposing that true virtue may lie not in resisting these ties but in transcending them through an acceptance of our limitations and a focus on higher, perhaps more spiritual, aspirations.

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