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 crost the bar.
Crossing the Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson • 180 poems by Alfred Lord TennysonEdit
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English author often regarded as the chief representative of the Victorian age in poetry. Tennyson succeeded Wordsworth as Poet Laureate in 1850; he was appointed by Queen Victoria and served 42 years. Tennyson's works were melancholic, and reflected the moral and intellectual values of his time, which made them especially vulnerable for later critic.
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By Alfred Lord Tennyson, © -1, All rights reserved.
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Editor notes
The bar referred to is a sandspit or similar promontory at the mouth of a river or harbour where tides have deposited sand over time. To hear the wind and waves moaning off the bar usually means that there is insufficient water to sail over the bar without grounding. Hence the second verse and its reference to a "full tide" or "high water"
I just visited Maritime Museum Astoria Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River where it discharges into the Pacific Ocean. This spot is one of the great graveyards of ships which have been lost as a result of encountering the BAR as they move from ocean to river or river to ocean. It is a difficult passage and requires a BAR PILOT. One only needs to see the river and ocean coming together and imagining a cold winter with high tides and a strong wind.
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- These lines are written on the stone above my mariner grandfathers headRate this comment
Glad to find this here. It is one of the most comforting pieces of poetry I've ever read. Technically superlative as well.
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This poem came to my mind when I just heard that a friend of our's had not passed the " Bar Exam" in the Philippines. It was a poem that my late father recited when he turned 82 plus , and he was dying of cancer. He was made to memorize longish poems in high school and they were coming back to his memory and wanted to record them for us. For he , too was about to cross the last ar of his life. Perhaps our friend will have to wait for another tide of opportunity to Pass the Bar ?
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- Re- reading this wonderful piece just reaffirms why I hold him in such high regard.
It still has a hold over me, even now, and sand bars, how we sailors don't like them, never stay in one place.....Rate this comment
beautiful thoughts ..penned down in black and white..!!
- This is one of Tennyson's finest pieces of work. Shorter than many of his poems, it works on both the literal and metaphorical level.
His mastery of rhythm, metre and rhyme is clearly displayed.
He also shows his total control of imagery and musicality.
For a long time it wasn't cool to like Tennyson. Sure, some of it is pretty crappy IMO - like "Enoch Arden," "Maud" or "The Princess" - but at his best he's up there with the true greats. Once established, Lord Tennyson alwaYS REQUESTED OF PUBLISHERS OF HIS COLLECTED POEMS, THAT THIS POEM BE PLACED LAST IN THE BOOK.
- That may work in collections of his own work but does not work on-line or in anthologies. Sorry.
Jim
Oldpoetry Research Team - Just a perfect piece of tranquility. No wonder he was so revered. Honest words so eloquently put.
- Read it for Pop when I buried him. It still makes me cry. The last two lines... Pop was blind.
- This is still one of the great classics in all of English poetry....
- hmm interesting ...storm
As a retired Liverpool Master Mariner I can say Tennyson has it word perfect it is also one of my favorite hymns.
I'm amazed to learn that this favourite poem of mine was written on the Isle of Wight ferry. I often look out on the Solent from my summer cottage and muse on life and mortality. I have asked for this poem to be sung at my funeral. The best version i have ever heard is by 3 Hampshire ladies Craig Morgan Robson, on their acapella album 'Stranded'.
- I admire your taste in Poetry and musicianship CMR are indeed excellent but the plain words are also very moving.
Jim Having lost my brother recently;
I pray he is welcomed by his Pilot
As we grew up on Tennyson Ave.,
ironic I find peace on a street named for he.
This was one of my grandfather's favorite poems. I read it at his funeral.
Farewell !!
From guest Jerry Rose (contact)
What a glorious insight into the next step of life; death!!!- Beautiful poem. I interpret it as someone thinking of their mortality and preparing to meet God!
CROSSING THE BAR
From guest KATHY WELTY (contact)
I THINK WE SOMETIMES OVER ANALYZE WHAT IS WRITTEN. YES THE BAR MAY REFER TO SAND. BUT THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN ABOUT A MAN, LEAVING THIS WORLD TO FACE HIS MAKER. THE ONE TRUE GOD.- From guest seesay (contact)
Can anyone remind me what piece of writing invokes the imagery of a sail disappearing over the horizon accompanied by cries of "there he goes" from the shore departed and of "here he comes" from the unseen shore over the horizon? At a fellow sailor's funeral years ago, I wrongly attributed the image to Tennyson, but now, think not. - Henry Van Dyke, a 19th Century clergyman, educator, poet, and religious writer. TITLE: Gone From My Sight
For guest Chris and others
There are a number of different versions of where he was when this was written. Most of them centre on the Isle of Wight and the Solent but with different ports of origin and destination. We may never know for sure now but its reference to the voyage and ultimate destination need no earthly references.
JimTennyson
From guest Chris (contact)
Tennyson wrote this poem on the Isle of Wight ferry from Lyminton to Yarmouth - his last visit to the island having moved a way s few years previously.Reading assignment in elementary school
From guest Manuel (contact)
In the mid thirties, when I was in the fifth grade in that one-room country school in Texas, the Principal would read us poems and discuss them. I still remember this one. Mr. Jostes did a good job. He also loved Rudyard Kipling.Following the un-met pilot
In life we may not see the pilot until after we finally "cross the bar" but we are encouraged to follow his instructions (teachings) throughout our lives rather like shipping following the charts and written instructions of pilots of old (or the coastguards of today).
The beauty of this poem is that it can be interpreted in a variety of ways AND it is "the right words in the right order" and thus pleasing to the senses even without the deeper meanings.
JimNEED A PILOT BEFORE THE BAR NOT AFTER
From guest John (contact)
The nautical irony here is that he sees his 'pilot' AFTER crossing the bar, taking a calculated risk. Typically a dangerous bar would ncessitate a pilot whom one meets outside, seaward, of the bar, and then perhaps a river pilot or harbor pilot thereafter. But that analysis rather spoils the theistic and simpler notion that one faces life without a pilot, and meets him only after the crossing. Capt John, USCG
(thanks for your insight - Oldpoetry Team)Sea Poems
From guest peter (contact)
bit of an old git, is me, developing a liking for sailing and sea. Poetry has never been a fascination of mine Yet, I have been gripped by poetic tales of tide and time. Stevie Smith - a poem she wrote, "I am not waving but drowning" put a lump in my throat. Although not necessarily about the sea, It was a metaphor on life, particulaly me!help
From guest priya (contact)
jst want to know the summary of tis poem if anyone can help plz mail me.....
MOD MESSAGE
Perhaps this will help you http://oldpoetry.com/board/topic/1492
Jimgoodbye
From guest Judy Fiala (contact)
My husband passed two days ago. I am on this St valentines day writing an eulogy which will end with this, my favorite poem.- From guest Herbert Dean Hale aka Oklahoma Johnny Hale (contact)
I am completing my book of my life-- It will be the last words in the book--- I read this poem---when I was very young and have remembered it for a lifetime. I will be 84 this year. by the official act of the State of Oklahoma Legislature I am one of Oklahoma's Favorite Son's Crossing the Bar
From guest Rex Sills (contact)
I too sang this as a young chorister over 50 years ago. This was in St James Church, Muswell Hill. We sang the Hubert Parry setting, which I just found and downloaded in MP3 from Amazon - and have now listened too about 30 times. There's also a beautiful rendition of another setting (Charles Ives I think) on Youtube (purple sky, tree in silhouette). Wikipedia says there are 5 other settings, but what I sang as a 9 year-old can't be beat.Crossing the Bar
From guest K. Standing (contact)
As a young chorister I sang Crossing the Bar to music at Sunday Evensong and the occasional funeral over half a century ago and it has been my favourite piece of verse ever since. My Father was a Royal Marine for many years and "Crossing the Bar" was sung at his Funeral as it will be at mine. The verse is not one of sadness but one of optimism as the narrator calls for "no sadness of farewell" as he waits in anticipation at meeting his maker.meaning
From guest sel (contact)
he described death in the form of a sea voyage. the bar refers to any bank of sand or gravel or like the mouth of the river. it is said that it is much better to crost the bar when it is full.
MOD MESSAGE
"It is full" refers to the tide and not to the bar. At full tide boats sail over the bar at low or slack tide they could run aground.
Jim- From guest Brendan Ring (contact)
I believe that Tennyson wrote this poem while a guest of the Knight of Kerry on Valentia Island. He would have seen very powerfull currents drain out of the harbour over the bar at Knightstown every day while there. Commercial Waterman of The Chesapeake Bay Md.
From guest Capt. Sonny Benton (contact)
As a Retired Pastor and Maryland State Police Chaplian, and a Commercial Waterman of The Bay I have often honored the memory these brave men and women who follow the life of the working class waterman. These men are now a part of "The Vanishing Breed of Real Men" who are "A Class Apart" I have not doubt used the poem "Corsing The Bar" scores of time and spoke of Alfred Lord Tennyson, and his desire to one day Cross The Bar at The Sunset of Life, and then see His Pilot Face To Face. This too had been my goal having faced The Perfect Storm, and BY God's Grace alone, will one day soon Croos The Bar and behold the Face of His Dear Son, My Savior. Thanks for letting me share my deepst thoughts of a waterman and minister. Sonny Bentonthe poem
From guest cassie (contact)
if you guys have read tennysons other poems like in momeriam then i thnk you would have the same idea as me that his pilot reprecents hallam he's best freind that had diedHumphrey bogart
From guest Jacqueline Anne (contact)
Fitting poem read at Bogarts funeral in 1957, And may there be no sadness of farewell When I embark. To a man who loved his sailing living his life to the full wanting no one to be sad on his demise.
