# Ode to Peace explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Henry van Dyke Jr..

## What happens

The speaker recounts a fervent quest for peace, which only ends in bitterness and weariness. After crying out to Heaven in desperation and receiving no answer, the speaker finally surrenders personal will, accepting divine will, and in that moment of surrender, peace is attained.

## Themes in this chapter

### Spiritual Peace and Rest

The entire poem centers on the quest for and attainment of spiritual peace through surrender to divine will.

### Faith and Doubt

The speaker moves from doubt and desperate striving to faith, finding peace in acceptance of God's will.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who strives for peace, grows weary, and finds peace through surrender.

### Jesus

Implied as the divine presence to whom the speaker surrenders, saying 'His will be done.'

## Key lines

> With eager heart and will on fire, I strove to win my great desire. 'Peace shall be mine,' I said; but life Grew bitter in the barren strife.

I passionately pursued peace as a goal, but the struggle only made life bitter.

_Describes the initial, failed approach of striving for peace through personal effort._

> Broken at last, I bowed my head, Forgetting all myself, and said, 'Whatever comes, His will be done;' And in that moment peace was won.

Finally humbled and self-forgetful, I accepted God's will, and instantly found peace.

_Climactic moment of surrender leading to the attainment of peace._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se/chapters/ode-to-peace
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_10_se/chapters