Crossing the Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Crossing the Bar by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is a poem that discusses a man who is given a calling from objects in the sky. The speaker then reaches a period of darkness and sadness. I believe this poem is packed full of symbolism. After discussing a tide and heading for home, the speaker states, "And may there be no sadness of farewell When I embark;... I hope to see my Pilot's face to face When I have crossed the bar" (Tennyson, 11-16). This poem symbolises a man reaching his time of death, and he does not want his friends and family to feel sadness for him. Then when he says he has "crossed the bar" he is saying that he has finally passed away. The "Pilot" represents the speaker finally meeting God in heaven. The speaker is acknowledging that he has reached his demise, so he looks forward to the positive outcome of the event. The speaker has accepted his death and sees it as a time to rejoice and be happy because he has finally reached the end of his journey that he embarked on. Tennyson is able to use this symbolism to show death in a new light, that of the begining of a new adventure.