Gradatim by Josiah Gilbert Holland

The poem uses repetition and figurative language (like metaphors and personification) in order to describe the differences between Heaven and Earth as well as the way that one gets from the latter to the former. The poet makes it very clear that getting from one to the other is something desirable and very difficult. Humanity cannot expect to reach God through a single leap. This poem drives home the point that it takes a lifetime of dedicated service to God in order to reach Heaven. 

Gradatim
Josiah Gilbert Holland

Heaven is not reached at a single bound;But we build the ladder by which we riseFrom the lowly earth, to the vaulted skies,And we mount to its summit round by round.

I count this thing to be grandly true:That a noble deed is a step toward God,Lifting the soul from the common clodTo a purer air and a broader view.

We rise by the things that are under feet;By what we have mastered of good and gain;By the pride deposed and the passion slain,And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet.

We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we trust,When the morning calls us to life and light,But our hearts grow weary, and, ere the night,Our lives are trailing the sordid dust.

We hope, we resolve, we aspire, we pray,And we think that we mount the air on wingsBeyond the recall of sensual things,While our feet still cling to the heavy clay.

Wings for the angels, but feet for men!We may borrow the wings to find the way—We may hope, and resolve, and aspire, and pray;But our feet must rise, or we fall again.

Only in dreams is a ladder thrownFrom the weary earth to the sapphire walls;But the dreams depart, and the vision falls,And the sleeper wakes on his pillow of stone.

Heaven is not reached at a single bound;But we build the ladder by which we riseFrom the lowly earth, to the vaulted skies,And we mount to its summit, round by round.

The Title 

The title of this unique poem reads “Gradatim,” an unusual word that readers are likely never to have seen before. It’s an obsolete term meaning gradually or a little bit at a time. It makes a great deal of sense once one has read the poem or even the first stanza. The poet is concerned with the process of rising from Earth to Heaven. It’s one that, as the title suggests, is gradual. One cannot expect to make it to Heaven in one leap or bound. It takes a long time to climb the ladder of good deeds. 

Summary 

‘Gradatim’ by Josiah Gilbert Holland is a religious poem about the process of rising from grim Earth to illustrious Heaven. 

The poem begins with the poet describing how one cannot reach Heaven in a single leap. It takes a long time of gradual, dedicated work to climb the ladder to Heaven. One needs to commit themselves to a life of good deeds, done in God’s name, in order to find themselves at the top of the metaphorical ladder. 

The poet also adds that sometimes one might feel as though they are rising toward God but, in reality, still be stuck in the mud of Earth. It takes perseverance and dedication to truly escape from the “sordid dust” of one’s mortal life. 

Structure and Form 

‘Gradatim’ by Josiah Gilbert Holland is an eight-stanza poem that is divided into sets of four lines, known as quatrains. These quatrains follow a rhyme scheme of ABBA, repeated from stanza to stanza with different end sounds. This poem is also written in iambic pentameter, meaning that each line contains five sets of two beats, the first of which is unstressed and the second stressed. This is the most common metrical pattern in English-language poetry. 

Literary Devices 

In this poem, the poet makes use of a few literary devices. These include: 

• Repetition: the use of the same literary device on more than one occasion. For example, “We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we trust” in stanza four. This line contains a few words, and a format, that’s used multiple times. 
• Metaphor: a comparison between two things that does not use “like” or “as.” For example, “But we build the ladder by which we rise / From the lowly earth, to the vaulted skies.” The ladder image used throughout this poem is a great example of a metaphor. 
• Anaphora: the repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of lines. For example, “By” which starts lines two and three of stanza three. 

Detailed Analysis 

Stanzas One and Two 

Heaven is not reached at a single bound;

But we build the ladder by which we rise

From the lowly earth, to the vaulted skies,

And we mount to its summit round by round.

I count this thing to be grandly true:

That a noble deed is a step toward God,

Lifting the soul from the common clod

To a purer air and a broader view.

In the first stanza of this piece, the poet begins by describing how much effort it takes to get from Earth to Heaven. One cannot jump there in a single, simple bound. Instead, it takes building a ladder, rung by rung, to reach God. One has to escape the lowly earth and into the “vaulted” skies. The word “vaulted” relates to the shape of the sky (referencing a church ceiling) as well as the nature of the place, it suggests that place is exalted. 

The poet goes on to describe how one builds their ladder to Heaven. It takes noble deeds, many of them, throughout life to find one’s way up the ladder and into a “purer air and a broader view.” One needs to lift their soul from Earth and the “common clod” of sin and sinners to God. This is something the speaker notes that they know to be “grandly true.” 

This is quite a simple idea that the speaker conveys with passion and confidence. 

Stanzas Three and Four 

We rise by the things that are under feet;

By what we have mastered of good and gain;

By the pride deposed and the passion slain,

And the vanquished ills that we hourly meet.

We hope, we aspire, we resolve, we trust,

When the morning calls us to life and light,

But our hearts grow weary, and, ere the night,

Our lives are trailing the sordid dust.

The next two stanzas describe what it takes to “rise” up the ladder of noble deeds to Heaven. One needs to master being good and doing good as well as depose, or get rid of, their pride and passion (that which is not aimed toward’s God). After all these “ills” are vanquished, one can make their way to Heaven. 

The poet uses repetition in the first line of stanza four to describe what humanity does, and needs to do, in order to rise. It involves hope, aspiration, resolve, and trust in God to make one’s way to Heaven. It’s important to stay strong throughout difficulties and persevere in the image of God, even when hearts grow weary. 

Stanzas Five and Six 

We hope, we resolve, we aspire, we pray,

And we think that we mount the air on wings

Beyond the recall of sensual things,

While our feet still cling to the heavy clay.

Wings for the angels, but feet for men!

We may borrow the wings to find the way—

We may hope, and resolve, and aspire, and pray;

But our feet must rise, or we fall again.

Similarly, the poet writes in stanza five that one needs to “hope,” “resolve,” “aspire,” and “pray” throughout life. It’s not easy getting to Heaven, and often when one thinks that they are on their way, their feet are (in truth) still clinging to the “heavy clay” of Earth. 

This reminds readers to never assume that one’s place in Heaven is guaranteed. One needs to work for it repetitively until one truly arrives there. 

The angels are the only ones with wings, the poet adds, emphasizing his previous point about clay sticking to the feet of humanity. Humankind is filled with sin, and borrowed wings are the only ones “we” will ever have. The repeated items, “ hope, and resolve, and aspire, and pray,” appear in the third line, reemphasizing how important it is, day after day, to continue on a godly path. 

Stanzas Seven and Eight 

Only in dreams is a ladder thrown

From the weary earth to the sapphire walls;

But the dreams depart, and the vision falls,

And the sleeper wakes on his pillow of stone.

Heaven is not reached at a single bound;

But we build the ladder by which we rise

From the lowly earth, to the vaulted skies,

And we mount to its summit, round by round.

In the second to last stanza, the poet writes that it’s only in one’s dreams that it’s possible to rise to Heaven with ease. One may see a “ladder thrown” from the “sapphire walls” down to the “weary earth” (an example of personification). But, this is only an illusion, one that may inspire everyday people to keep striving for Heaven. 

When one wakes up, the seventh stanza adds, the ladder is gone, and one is back in their bed on their “pillow of stone.” The image of the uncomfortable, cold stone pillow is in stark contrast to the images of Heaven the poet has so far presented in the poem. 

The final stanza of ‘Gradatim’ is what is known as a refrain. This is a line, or set of lines, that’s repeated in a poem. The final, eighth stanza is an exact replica of the first stanza. This brings the poem full circle, concluding it with the same sentiment shared in the first lines. It also serves to ensure that readers walk away with a very clear message about Earth, God, humanity, and sin in mind. 

FAQs 

Similar Poetry 

Readers who enjoyed this piece should also consider reading some related poems. For example: 

• ‘My God! O Let Me Call Thee Mine!’ by Anne Brontë – this poem is a prayer to God that is filled with reverence and dedication.
• ‘Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness’ by John Donne – is a well-known poem that’s written from the perspective of a dying man who is addressing God in his final hours. 
• ‘i thank You God for most this amazing’ by E.E. Cummings – a poem that is addressed to God and expresses a speaker’s thanks.