Written in 1889, when Tennyson was about 80 years old, "Crossing The Bar" is one of his last pieces of poetry. The elegy embraces similar themes as many of Alfred, Lord Tennyson's other works as he once again uses references to the sea; this time to make his point about the ending of life on earth. Tennyson seemed to view the piece as a bookend of sorts to his work and requested that this poem be placed last in all future publications of collections of his poetry.
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Program CreditsAnnouncer: Thomas Lamar
Narrator: Todd Green
Composer: Natasha Green
Sound Design & Mixing: Christopher Green
Photography: Conrad Ziebland
Producer/Director: J.D. Sutter
Entry on Wikipedia for "Crossing the Bar"
Entry on Wikipedia for Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Tennyson's Bio on The Poetry Foundation
Summary and Analysis of "Crossing the Bar" from GradeSaver
Summary and Analysis of "Crossing the Bar" via Cambridge University website
|Alfred, Lord Tennyson|
"Crossing The Bar" by Alfred, Lord TennysonSunset 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 crost the bar.