Crossing the Bar - Alfred, Lord Tennyson
A Serene Farewell to Life’s Voyage
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crost the bar.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s poem “Crossing the Bar” serves as a gentle metaphor for death, likening the end of earthly life to a voyage setting sail beyond a sandbar at sea. In a mere sixteen lines, Tennyson maintains a calm and hopeful tone, suggesting that the final journey need not be accompanied by fear or despair. Instead, he envisions this passage as a transition guided by a higher power—“my Pilot”—whom he hopes to meet face to face.
The poem’s structure features four quatrains with a consistent rhyme scheme, reinforcing its measured, contemplative quality. Tennyson chooses imagery like “Sunset and evening star,” “Twilight,” and “the dark” to capture a sense of day's end seamlessly blending into night. This gentle shift parallels the poet’s desire for a peaceful crossing, free from the “moaning of the bar,” which might otherwise signify turbulence or sorrow.
At its core, “Crossing the Bar” suggests acceptance rather than resistance, emphasizing a dignified embrace of life’s final threshold. Written toward the end of Tennyson’s life, it resonates with a profound tranquility and trust in the unknown. The poem’s quiet assurance has made it one of his most beloved works, often chosen as a reading at memorials and funerals. Its universal themes of courage, faith, and serenity in the face of mortality continue to comfort and inspire readers today.
Key points
• Employs oceanic imagery to symbolize the journey from life to death.
• Maintains a calm, accepting tone about the mystery awaiting beyond this world.
• Highlights Tennyson’s belief in a benevolent guidance—his “Pilot.”
• Uses twilight and nightfall as metaphors for the close of one life stage and the beginning of another.
• Remains a widely cherished piece for funerals and memorials due to its theme of hopeful transition.
