THEME OF PASSAGE TO ETERNITY IN “CROSSING THE BAR”

Discuss the theme of passage to eternity in the poem, Crossing The Bar”.

“Crossing The Bar” talks about passage to eternity. Death is an inevitable factor in human existence and it comes, when it comes. Thus the poet imagines his death at sunset as the call of nature comes:

Sunset and evening star

And one clear calls for me…

May there be no moaning…

When I put out to sea.

This sunset and evening are symbolic of old age when one should expect the call of nature and he says, when this call comes, there should be no moaning as he embarks on the journey, he hopes to pass on peacefully and the death to be less strenuous.

Such a tide as moving seems asleep. Let his passage be a quiet tide to draw him from where he is to turn him home and when the dark hour is over, he still insists: “May there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark…” The speaker does not ask for hues and cries because he knows where he is going and is very optimistic to meet his saviour. This is captured in the last two lines of the poem: I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crossed the bar.

This implies that he is hopeful to meet his saviour when he has passed on to eternity.

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