Song VII Literature and Writing Quotes

The words "My song" open this poem. The speaker, in other words, immediately clues us into the fact that this is a poem about poetry, or meta-poetry. By comparing his poem to a woman who is taking off her "adornments," the speaker also suggests that a poem that's simple is better than a poem that's full of complicated poetic language and devices.

In these lines, the speaker compares his poetic abilities to those of God's (the "master poet"). Can we guess who wins this match-up? God, of course. The poetic powers of the divine are far greater than the speaker's, who is a mere mortal after all.

Here, the speaker suggests that God's music, or poetry, finds expression through him. The speaker is just an instrument, or "flute," through which God expresses his poetry and music. These lines affirm the idea that God's poetic abilities are far greater than the speaker's.