The Pulley

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The poem shows God giving Man many blessings but withholding Rest. This keeps Man restless, so he turns back to God. The poem presents a two-way relationship: God blesses, and Man is expected to remai…

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George Herbert was a Welsh poet who lived from 1593 to 1633. He was also a priest by profession. His poems are religious and rich in imagery and conceits.

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It is a metaphysical poem. It uses a secular scientific image, the pulley, to explain a religious idea. This makes the poem thoughtful and imaginative.

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The pulley stands for restlessness. God uses this restlessness like a force that draws Man back to Him.

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God gives strength, beauty, wisdom, honour, and pleasure. These are the blessings shown as being poured out on Man.

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God pauses when almost all the blessings are given out because only Rest remains. He notices that Rest is still left in the bottom of the glass.

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The glass of blessings suggests that God has a full store of gifts ready for Man. It shows that blessings are carefully chosen and given in abundance.

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'Dispersed' means scattered. 'Contract' means to collect together. God wants the world's riches, though scattered, to be gathered into Man's small span.