"Song VII" can be understood as a lesson in the importance of humility. That's because the speaker suggests that, in order for us to really get a sense of the amazing divine presence that's all around us, we have to be humble. What's more, our poetry has to be humble. Only when we understand how pathetic we are compared to God, and how pathetic our own poetic powers are compared to those of God, only then that we can begin to connect with the divine. The Head Dude or Dudette up there created the whole universe, after all. We'd agree that he or she is way more talented than we are.
Questions About Humility
- Why does the speaker think that "ornamented" language and poetry interferes with our ability to access the divine?
- Why does the speaker think that he's so much more of an inferior poet than God is?
- How does having a humble outlook help the speaker become a better poet?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
The speaker's got it right here: all good poetry requires humility.
Not so fast here, Mr. Speaker—too much humility is never good for writing poetry.