In “Crossing the Bar,” Paraphrase Explain, what the speaker desires
The speaker in the poem "Crossing the Bar" by Alfred, Lord Tennyson desires to have a peaceful transition from life to death. To understand this desire, we need to paraphrase and analyze the poem.
Paraphrase:
In the poem, the speaker uses the metaphor of crossing a bar, which refers to a sandbar or a barrier between the open sea and a harbor. The speaker talks about the end of their journey and the approach of death. They express a desire to leave this worldly life behind and move gracefully into the unknown, embracing the natural cycle of life and death.
Explanation:
To understand the speaker's desire in more detail, we can analyze the different elements of the poem. The first stanza sets the tone by describing the boundary between life and death symbolized by the "sand" and the "tide." The speaker acknowledges that no one can avoid crossing this boundary eventually.
In the second stanza, the speaker expresses their hopes for a serene transition. They ask for the "flood" (the movement of the sea) to carry them away when the time comes. They desire for the tide to be at its fullest, representing a peaceful passing. The words "moaning" and "gloaming" suggest a calm and tranquil setting.
The third stanza reveals the speaker's desire to see their Pilot (possibly referring to a divine figure, like God) face to face. They wish to meet the Pilot after their crossing, as if it were the end of a voyage. The phrases "face to face" and "breast to breast" indicate an intimate encounter, suggesting a yearning for a spiritual reunion after death.
Overall, the speaker desires a peaceful and graceful departure from life, sailing smoothly across the metaphorical bar that separates the mortal world from the afterlife. They embrace death as a natural continuation of existence and aspire to meet their guiding force once they have made this crossing.