Crossing the Bar
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
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 tho’ 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 crossed the bar.
Understanding “Crossing the Bar”
“Crossing the Bar” was first published in 1889 as part of Tennyson’s collection The Idylls of the Sea. It is a deeply moving poem that addresses the universal experience of death with hope rather than fear. By likening death to a sailor’s final voyage, Tennyson invites readers to see the transition from life to the afterlife as a peaceful crossing of a familiar boundary. The poem is often read at funerals and memorial services, testifying to its enduring relevance.
What Is “Crossing the Bar” About?
The poem centers on the acceptance of death and the hope for what lies beyond. Tennyson portrays death not as an end, but as a journey— a crossing of a metaphorical bar, a sandbank at the mouth of a harbor, into the unknown. The speaker welcomes this transition, wishing for a calm and untroubled passage back to the great, divine source from which all life originates.
The Central Idea
At its core, the poem celebrates peaceful acceptance of death as a natural part of life’s cycle. Tennyson focuses on the hope of reunion with a divine presence, symbolized by the “Pilot” who guides the soul to its final destination. The poem’s beauty lies in its ability to transform the daunting prospect of death into a serene vision of return.
In‑Depth Analysis of “Crossing the Bar”
Analyzing the Stanzas
Stanza 1: Setting the Scene
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,
This stanza establishes a tranquil twilight setting. The imagery of sunset and the evening star evokes a sense of closure and calm. The “clear call” represents the summons of death, accepted with open arms. The speaker wishes for a quiet, undisturbed passage across the bar, a boundary between life and the unknown.
Stanza 2: The Gentle Tide
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.
Here Tennyson describes a calm tide, “moving seems asleep.” This imagery underscores the gentle, natural nature of death. The “boundless deep” is the source of all life, and the speaker sees death as a return to this original source—a turning home. The absence of sound and foam suggests a smooth, effortless transition.
Stanza 3: Embracing the Darkness
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
This stanza continues the progression toward darkness, symbolizing the final stages of life. “Twilight and evening bell” mark the approach of night and, symbolically, the end of earthly existence. The speaker explicitly requests “no sadness of farewell,” expressing a desire for peace rather than grief. The act of embarking signifies the beginning of the journey into the unknown.
Stanza 4: The Pilot and the Journey’s End
For tho’ 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 crossed the bar.
This final stanza reveals the speaker’s ultimate hope. “Time and Place” represent earthly limitations, while the flood symbolizes the post‑death journey that may carry the soul far from worldly concerns. The “Pilot” is a metaphor for God or a divine guide, who leads the soul safely across the bar and into eternity. The speaker longs to meet this Pilot face to face—a direct communion with the divine.
Literary and Poetic Devices
Exploring the Techniques
- Metaphor: The entire poem is built around the metaphor of a sea voyage representing the transition from life to death. The bar is a symbol of the boundary between life and the afterlife.
- Imagery: Tennyson uses vivid images such as “sunset and evening star,” “tide as moving seems asleep,” and “twilight and evening bell” to evoke a strong sense of place and atmosphere.
- Symbolism: The sea represents eternity, the Pilot symbolizes God, and the bar represents the boundary between life and death.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds creates a musical effect—for example, “clear call” and “sadness of farewell.”
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds enhances the poem’s musicality, such as the recurring ‘e’ sound in “evening bell.”
- Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next creates a flowing rhythm and emphasizes key ideas.
- Tone: The poem’s tone is serene, accepting, and hopeful. Tennyson avoids language that evokes fear or sadness, focusing instead on the beauty and tranquility of death.
Quotes to Remember
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
This excerpt encapsulates the poem’s central theme—the acceptance of death as a natural part of life and the desire for a peaceful transition. It is often used to offer comfort and hope to those grieving a loss.
“Crossing the Bar” remains a beloved poem for its beautiful language, profound insights into the human condition, and comforting message of hope and acceptance. It is a testament to Tennyson’s skill as a poet and his ability to capture the universal experience of mortality with grace and sensitivity.