The ‘pulley’ of the title does not appear in the poem directly as a metaphysical conceit. Rather, Herbert uses the title to draw our attention to the single fixed point that God uses to increase the force with which he lifts us up. The wheel, axle, or block of the pulley system is the highest gift of “rest” by which God increases the force of his love upon us, as if using a simple machine like a pulley.

Structure
The poem comprises four stanzas of similar construction. In each, the first and last lines are short, iambic trimeters, that is three metrical feet or iambs per line. The three middle lines are broadly iambic pentameters, that is with five metrical feet per line. There is a regular ABABA rhyme scheme throughout. The opening line works as an introduction to the next stage of Herbert’s argument, the middle section expands it, and the final line concludes or provides the twist.

Language and Imagery
The voice is that of a third party narrator, speculating on God’s thoughts when creating the world. The tone is thoughtful and intelligent and the conceit or metaphor, that of the pulley that draws humans to God, is inventive and original.

What Does Metaphysical Mean?
The word ‘meta’ means ‘after,’ so the translation of ‘metaphysical’ is ‘after the physical.’ Metaphysics deals with questions that can’t be explained by science, and explores the nature of reality in a philosophical way.

Common metaphysical questions include the following:
•Does God exist?
• What is the difference between reality and perception?
•Is everything that happens already predetermined? If so, then is free choice non-existent?
•Is consciousness limited to the brain?

Of course, there is no one correct answer; Metaphysics is about exploration and philosophy, not about science and mathematics.

Characteristics
One common characteristic is that Metaphysical poetry is clever and witty. The poets examined serious questions with humour and inventiveness.

Metaphysical poetry also sought to shock and challenge the reader; to question the unquestionable. The poetry often mixed ordinary speech with intellectual paradoxes and puns. The results were strange, comparing unlikely things, such as lovers to a compass or the soul to a drop of dew. These bizarre comparisons were called ‘conceits’.

Metaphysical poetry also explored a few common themes — religion; the theme of carpe diem (seize the day) and the nature of humanity and emotions.