# The Souls’ Rising explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The poem depicts a tumultuous spiritual ascent through a storm of souls, where two companions witness a tormented spirit lamenting its lost childhood faith and the overwhelming rush of existence. They pursue it through chaos and darkness, seeking wisdom, before rising beyond the storm into a golden dawn where death is overcome by life.

## Themes in this chapter

### Spiritual Struggle and Doubt

The tormented spirit expresses blindness, inability to grasp the mystery, and longing for lost childhood faith amid the storm of existence.

### Childhood and Innocence

The spirit yearns to be a child again to nurse seeds of faith and power, contrasting the overwhelming adult experience.

### Redemption and Grace

The poem concludes with the rising beyond storm and strife, declaring 'Death is swallowed up of Life,' suggesting ultimate redemption.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator who addresses a brother and describes the vision of souls rising through the storm.

### God

Invoked by the tormented spirit who wishes to be a child again to nurse faith and power.

## Key lines

> Would God I were a child again To nurse the seeds of faith and power; I might have clasped in wisdom then A wing to beat this awful hour!

The spirit wishes to return to childhood to cultivate faith and strength, believing that wisdom then would have given it the means to endure this terrible moment.

_Expresses longing for lost innocence and the desire to reclaim foundational faith._

> Death is swallowed up of Life!

Death is completely overcome and absorbed by life.

_A triumphant conclusion affirming the victory of life over death, echoing Christian resurrection themes._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/the-souls-rising
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters