Permit Me A Voyage by James Agee: Poem and Analysis

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The Poem

 From the Third Voyage of Hart Crane

Take these who will as may be: I

Am careless now of what they fail:

My heart and mind discharted lie 

And surely as the nerved nail 

Appoints all quarters on the north

So now it designates him forth

My sovereign God my princely soul

Whereon my flesh is priestly stole:

Whence forth shall my heart and mind

To God through soul entirely bow,

Therein such strong increase to find

In truth as is my fate to know:

Small though that be great God I know

I know in this gigantic day

What God is ruined and I know

How labors with Godhead this day:

How from the porches of our sky

The crested glory is declined:

And hear with what translated cry 

The stridden soul is overshined:

And how this world of wildness through

True poets shall walk who herald you:

Of whom God grant me of your grace 

To be, that shall preserve this race.

Permit me voyage, Love, into your hands

Analysis 

Title: A Poetic Voyage into the Divine: An Analysis of James Agee's "Permit Me A Voyage"

James Agee's "Permit Me A Voyage" is a contemplative and spiritually charged poem that delves into themes of faith, surrender, and the quest for divine understanding. Written as a response to Hart Crane's work, the poem reflects Agee's own journey of introspection and seeking.

The poem begins with a sense of resignation and acceptance, as the speaker declares their indifference to the opinions of others ("Take these who will as may be: I / Am careless now of what they fail"). This detachment sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the speaker's inner world.

Agee uses rich and symbolic language throughout the poem to convey the depth of the speaker's emotions. The image of the "nerved nail" that "appoints all quarters on the north" suggests a sense of divine guidance, as if the speaker's path is predetermined and ordained by a higher power. This image is further reinforced by the reference to God as the "sovereign God my princely soul / Whereon my flesh is priestly stole," indicating a profound spiritual connection between the speaker and the divine.

The poem also reflects Agee's contemplation of the state of the world and humanity's relationship with God. The speaker laments the "ruined" state of God and observes how the "crested glory" has declined from the sky. This imagery evokes a sense of loss and decay, suggesting a world in turmoil and in need of spiritual renewal.

Despite the bleakness of the world, the poem ends on a note of hope and optimism. The speaker expresses a desire to embark on a voyage into the hands of Love, suggesting a willingness to surrender to the divine and trust in its guiding force. This final plea for guidance and protection reflects the speaker's belief in the power of love to transcend the chaos of the world and lead to a higher understanding.

In conclusion, James Agee's "Permit Me A Voyage" is a deeply introspective and spiritually profound poem that explores themes of faith, surrender, and the quest for divine understanding. Through rich and symbolic language, Agee invites readers to contemplate their own relationship with the divine and to consider the role of love in navigating life's complexities.