"Easter Wings" by George Herbert is a simple, yet powerful Christian poem about man's fall and the speaker's yearning to ascend. The curve of a bird's wings is used by the poet to underline the nature of the speaker's fall and ascent. The word "wings" appears seven times in this poem. Herbert's father was a bishop and he was educated at Cambridge University. After graduating, he became a clergyman in the Church of England and later held several high-profile positions within the government. In 1633, at the age of 36, he was appointed Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield but was forced to resign after only three years due to illness. He died two years later at the age of 39. This poem is one of his early works and it was probably written between 1608 and 1615. It was first published in 1633 along with another five poems as part of Herbert's greatest work, the collection known as "Poems". This poem has been interpreted as a warning against pride or as a plea for mercy before God. The speaker in this poem is clearly a reference to man because he says he wants to be like a bird who can fly away at any moment.