"Crossing the Bar" is a poem written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson in 1889, shortly before his death. The poem reflects on the idea of death as a journey and the passage from life to the afterlife.
In the first stanza, the speaker describes the setting as the "sea" and the "sunset," suggesting that the journey is taking place at the end of the day, perhaps symbolizing the end of life. The speaker then compares the journey to a bar, which could be seen as a metaphor for the threshold between life and death. The bar is described as "the flood," possibly suggesting that death is a natural, inevitable force that we must all eventually face.
The second stanza begins with the phrase "But such a tide as moving seems asleep," which could be interpreted as a reference to the peacefulness and acceptance that often accompany the acceptance of death. The speaker goes on to describe the journey as a "long, narrow bar," suggesting that it is a difficult path, but one that we must all eventually take.
In the third stanza, the speaker compares the journey across the bar to the "lowly dead," who are described as "tossed" and "shaken" by the waves of the sea. This could be seen as a metaphor for the tumultuous and uncertain nature of death. However, the speaker also describes the dead as being "gently, kindly," suggesting that death may not be as fearful or frightening as we might imagine.
The final stanza of the poem describes the speaker's own journey across the bar, as he begins to "fade away" and "fade into the light." This could be seen as a metaphor for the transition from life to death, as the speaker's physical body begins to weaken and fade away, while his spirit is lifted up and carried towards the light.
Overall, "Crossing the Bar" is a poignant and thought-provoking reflection on the theme of death and the journey that we must all eventually take. Through vivid imagery and carefully chosen words, Tennyson invites readers to consider the profound and universal experience of crossing the threshold between life and death, and to find peace and acceptance in the face of this ultimate unknown.