Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "Grace" offers a nuanced reflection on faith, envy, and the subtle ways in which we relate to the divine in the modern world. The poem is a quiet yet powerful meditation on the nature of belief and the way it intersects with everyday life, particularly in moments of vulnerability or uncertainty. Through a seemingly simple encounter with a young professor’s prayer, Pastan delves into the complexities of personal faith and the longing for a deeper connection with something greater than oneself.

The poem begins with the young professor folding "his hands at dinner" and addressing God in a prayer of gratitude for the speaker's safe arrival and the meal before them. The professor’s prayer is notable for its casual, conversational tone, described as the same tone the speaker uses when leaving messages on friends' answering machines. This comparison immediately establishes a contrast between the expected solemnity of prayer and the ease with which the professor engages with God. The speaker likens the professor's tone to the way one might "chat about this and that" on a voicemail, imagining the listener as too busy to pick up the phone or occupied with more important matters. This analogy suggests that the professor's relationship with God is not one of formality or fear, but rather one of familiarity and comfort, as though he is speaking to a close friend who may not always be immediately available but is nevertheless present and attentive.

This casual approach to prayer is both intriguing and enviable to the speaker. The ease with which the professor converses with God implies a deep, unselfconscious faith, one that does not require grand gestures or formalities. The speaker, observing this, feels a sense of envy—a longing for the same kind of rapport with the divine. This envy is not malicious but rather wistful, as the speaker recognizes something valuable in the professor's simple, unpretentious faith that she herself lacks.

The poem's tone shifts in the second half, where the speaker reflects on her own experience while "flying home / through a windy / and overwhelming sky." Here, the physical journey becomes a metaphor for the speaker's spiritual uncertainty and vulnerability. The "windy and overwhelming sky" evokes a sense of the vastness and unpredictability of the world, underscoring the speaker's feeling of smallness and powerlessness. In this moment of fear or unease, the speaker finds herself wishing for the professor's prayers to "keep my plane aloft," revealing her desire for the security and peace that faith can provide.

The poem closes with this wish, leaving the reader with a sense of unresolved longing. The speaker's envy of the professor's faith and her hope that his prayers will protect her suggest a yearning for a faith that is not yet her own. There is an implicit recognition that, while she may not share the professor's ease of communication with God, she values it and wishes she could claim it for herself. This desire is compounded by the inherent danger and uncertainty of life, represented by the turbulent sky and the fragile plane—a reminder that in moments of crisis, even those who may not practice faith regularly find themselves reaching out for something greater, hoping for protection or reassurance.

"Grace" is a contemplative poem that captures the intersection of the ordinary and the sacred, illustrating how moments of everyday life can prompt deeper reflections on faith and connection. Through the lens of a simple dinner prayer, Pastan explores the complex emotions of envy, longing, and hope, revealing the human desire for a relationship with the divine that feels both personal and profound. The poem subtly questions what it means to have faith and how one might cultivate such a relationship with God, leaving the reader to consider their own rapport with the divine and the ways in which they seek or experience grace in their lives.

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