Jack Gilbert’s poem "Failing and Flying" stands as a powerful meditation on the nature of success and failure, particularly as they pertain to the human condition. Far from advocating for a simple binary of victory or defeat, Gilbert suggests that true vitality lies not in achieving an idealized state of perfection, but in the very process of striving, falling, and rising again. The poem’s central conceit—the image of the speaker’s daughter’s struggle to fly a kite—becomes a potent metaphor for life’s inherent difficulties and the unexpected grace that can emerge from them. Through this seemingly simple observation, Gilbert crafts a nuanced argument that embracing imperfection is not a capitulation, but an essential element of a rich and meaningful existence.
The poem opens with a direct, almost reportorial account of the daughter’s kite-flying attempt. "I have been imagining my daughter / trying to fly a kite," Gilbert writes, immediately establishing a tone of gentle observation. The daughter’s efforts are not presented as a triumphant success. Instead, the focus is on her struggle: the kite dips, it catches, it doesn't soar. Gilbert doesn't shy away from describing the less-than-ideal moments. The kite "caught itself / on the roof of the house," a clear instance of failure, of something going wrong. Yet, Gilbert's perspective is not one of disappointment. He notes, "and she will come to me / with the kite string broken." This broken string, a symbol of incompletion and mishap, is met not with harsh judgment but with a gentle acknowledgement of the reality of the situation. The daughter's approach to her father for help, her willingness to admit the failure, is a crucial moment. It signifies a lack of shame, an acceptance of the imperfect outcome.
This acceptance of imperfection, the poem argues, is where a deeper understanding of flying—and by extension, living—begins. Gilbert posits that the daughter will eventually learn to fly the kite, not by some magical intervention, but through her continued efforts. The real success isn't in the kite magically remaining aloft, but in her persistent engagement with the process. "She is a child / who will learn to fly the kite," he states with quiet confidence. This learning is not presented as a smooth ascent but as a series of trials. The broken string, the catching on the roof—these are not endpoints but instructive moments. The poem suggests that these setbacks are integral to the learning process, that one cannot truly learn to fly without experiencing the moments of falling or being grounded. The broken string, in this light, becomes not a sign of ultimate failure, but a necessary precursor to mending, to understanding how to hold the line, how to adjust to the wind.
Furthermore, Gilbert extends this idea beyond the literal act of kite-flying to a broader philosophy of life. He contrasts the daughter’s experience with a more abstract, perhaps idealized, notion of flying that is often pursued. "She will fly it over the heads of the people / who are afraid to look up," he declares. This image implies a courage that comes from embracing vulnerability. Those who are afraid to look up are perhaps those who fear failure, who are so invested in an image of effortless success that they cannot tolerate the messy reality of effort. The daughter, by contrast, is learning to navigate the real world, a world where kites snag, strings break, and the wind is unpredictable. Her eventual success, when it comes, will be all the more meaningful because it is forged in the crucible of these imperfections. It is a triumph not of innate genius, but of learned resilience.
Ultimately, "Failing and Flying" champions a perspective where the messy, imperfect attempts are as vital, if not more so, than the moments of apparent success. Gilbert doesn't dismiss the desire to fly, to achieve, but he redefines what constitutes genuine achievement. It is not the flawless execution, but the persistent spirit, the willingness to mend what is broken, and the courage to keep trying despite inevitable setbacks. The poem leaves the reader with a profound appreciation for the beauty of struggle, for the grace inherent in simply continuing to engage with the world, even when the kite string breaks and the wind doesn't cooperate. It is a testament to the idea that often, it is in failing that we truly learn to fly.