The Ebb and Flow
by Edward Taylor
When first thou on me, Lord, wrought’st thy sweet print,
My heart was made thy tinder box.
My ‘ffections were thy tinder in’t:
Where fell thy sparks by drops.
Those holy sparks of heavenly fire that came
Did ever catch and often out would flame.But now my heart is made thy censer trim,
Full of thy golden altar’s fire,
To offer up sweet incense in
Unto thyself entire:
I find my tinder scarce thy sparks can feel
That drop out from thy holy flint and steel.Hence doubts out bud for fear thy fire in me
‘S a mocking ignis fatuus;
Or lest thine altars fire out be,
It’s hid in ashes thus.
Yet when the bellows of thy spirit blow
Away mine ashes, then thy fire doth glow.
Summary of The Ebb and Flow
- Popularity of “The Ebb and Flow”: “The Ebb and Flow” by Edward Taylor, an American physician, pastor, and poet, is a beautiful piece of poetry. The poem appeared first in 1939. The major feature of the poem lies in the poet’s extreme obedience to Lord and his devotion to his faith. The popularity of the poem, however, lies in its beautiful rhyme scheme.
- “The Ebb and Flow” As a Representative of Religious Faith: The poet opens the poem with the praise of the Lord, saying he has filled his heart with confidence, love, and care in early life. His heart was like a “tinder box.” The sparks of the heavenly fire, as the poet calls it, have inflamed love of religion in the poet’s heart. However, in the second stanza, the poem alleges that his heart has become a “censer trim” which is now emitting sweet incense everywhere. The poet feels that his love of the Lord has become a scent that is spreading everywhere. Yet, he feels that now this fire is dying down, becoming almost a will-o’-the-wisp, or ignus fatuus due to his doubts. He thinks that it would die down with time.
- Major Themes in “The Ebb and Flow”: Religious devotion, faltering resolution, and faith in divine blessings are three major themes of the poem. The poet beautifully starts the poem, saying that this fire has inflamed his spirit which is now spreading the scent. However, it has happened that now with the passage of time his mind has become mature but his resolution and faith in God has faltered. Therefore, his strong faith in the divine blessings is almost faltering in these doubtful circumstances.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The Ebb and Flow
literary devices are essential for poetic or prose writing to make the text beautiful and worth reading. The analysis of these devices in the poem demonstrates this fact as follows.
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /o/ in “When first thou on me, Lord, wrought’st thy sweet print”, /a/ in “My heart was made by thy tinder box” and the sound of /e/ in “To offer up sweet incense in.”
- Alliteration: It is the use of successive consonant sounds in the initials of the successive words such as /f/ in “for fear.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /h/ in “Those holy sparks of heavenly fire that came”, /s/ and /r/ in “But now my heart is made thy censer trim,” and the sound of /w/ and /b/ in “Yet when the bellows of thy spirit blow.”
- Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;
It’s hid in ashes thus.
Yet when the bellows of thy spirit blow
Away mine ashes, then thy fire doth glow.
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. The poem shows the use of imagery such as “Those holy sparks of heavenly fire that came”, “To offer up sweet incense” and “Or lest thine altars fire be.”
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The poem shows the use of metaphors of fire, incense, and fear.
- Personification: The poet has shown the use of personifications of spirit and heart as if they have life and emotions of their own.
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The poem shows the use of religious symbols such as heart, ashes, and glow.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The Ebb and Flow
Poetic devices, besides literary devices, are instrumental in beautifying the poems. Edward Taylor has done it with his poem “The Ebb and Flow” as follows.
- Diction and Tone: The poem shows classical and rhythmic diction full of figurative language. Its tone, however, is highly devotional.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows ABABCC rhyme scheme in all of its three stanzas.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are total three stanzas with each having six verses.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “The Ebb and Flow” are relevant to use when delivering a lecture on the blessings of the Lord.
But now my heart is made thy censer trim,
Full of thy golden altar’s fire,
To offer up sweet incense in
Unto thyself entire.”
