What am I to believe? If the angel in his cloud, Serenely gazing at the violent abyss, Plucks on his strings to pluck abysmal glory, Leaps downward through evening's revelations, and On his spredden wings, needs nothing but deep space, Forgets the gold centre, the golden destiny, Grows warm in the motionless motion of his flight, Am I that imagine this angel less-satisfied? Are the wings his, the lapis-haunted air?
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker questions if an angel's detachment from earthly destiny is truly satisfied compared to human imaginative struggle.
- In plain terms
- Is the angel free and happy, or does it miss something humans have?
- What can you take from it?
- Detachment might not bring true satisfaction.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does freedom require forgetting purpose?
- Is human struggle more meaningful than angelic flight?
Another view
Detachment can bring peace that humans cannot find.
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