{"id":560,"date":"2016-10-06T14:05:08","date_gmt":"2016-10-06T14:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/englishlitvictorianmodern\/?post_type=chapter&p=560"},"modified":"2016-10-06T14:05:08","modified_gmt":"2016-10-06T14:05:08","slug":"crossing-the-bar","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-englishlitvictorianmodern\/chapter\/crossing-the-bar\/","title":{"raw":"Crossing the Bar","rendered":"Crossing the Bar"},"content":{"raw":"Hallam Tennyson gives this account of the writing of this hymn:\"'Crossing the Bar,' was written...on a day in October [1889] when we came from Aldworth to Farringford. Before reaching Farringford he had the moaning of the bay in his mind, and after dinner he showed me this poem written out. I said, 'That is the crown of your life's work.' He answered, 'It came in a moment.' He explained the 'Pilot' as \u2018That Divine and Unseen Who is always guiding us.\u2019 ... A few days before my father's death [1892] he said to me, 'Mind you put \"Crossing the Bar\" at the end of all editions of my poems...'\" (<\/em>Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Memoir, II, 366).<\/em>\n\n\u00a0\n\nSunset and evening star,\n\nAnd one clear call[footnote]A summons to duty, here that of God.[\/footnote]\u00a0for me!\n\nAnd may there be no moaning of the bar[footnote]A bar is a sandbank across a harbour mouth. Charles Kingsley, in his poem \u201cThe Three Fishers,\u201d refers to the common estuary in Barnstaple Bay, where the joining of two rivers and the incoming sea produces a loud moaning sound.[\/footnote],\n\nWhen I put out to sea,\n\n\u00a0\n\nBut such a tide as moving seems asleep,\n\nToo full for sound and foam,\n\nWhen that which drew from out the boundless deep\n\nTurns again home.\n\n\u00a0\n\nTwilight and evening bell,\n\nAnd after that the dark!\n\nAnd may there be no sadness of farewell,\n\nWhen I embark;\n\n\u00a0\n\nFor tho' from out our bourne[footnote]Life on Earth.[\/footnote]\u00a0of Time and Place\n\nThe flood may bear me far,\n\nI hope to see my Pilot face to face\n\nWhen I have crost the bar.\n\n\u20141889\n
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Hallam Tennyson gives this account of the writing of this hymn:”‘Crossing the Bar,’ was written…on a day in October [1889] when we came from Aldworth to Farringford. Before reaching Farringford he had the moaning of the bay in his mind, and after dinner he showed me this poem written out. I said, ‘That is the crown of your life’s work.’ He answered, ‘It came in a moment.’ He explained the ‘Pilot’ as \u2018That Divine and Unseen Who is always guiding us.\u2019 … A few days before my father’s death [1892] he said to me, ‘Mind you put “Crossing the Bar” at the end of all editions of my poems…'” (<\/em>Alfred Lord Tennyson: A Memoir, II, 366).<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sunset and evening star,<\/p>\n

And one clear call[1]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0for me!<\/p>\n

And may there be no moaning of the bar[2]<\/sup><\/a>,<\/p>\n

When I put out to sea,<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,<\/p>\n

Too full for sound and foam,<\/p>\n

When that which drew from out the boundless deep<\/p>\n

Turns again home.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Twilight and evening bell,<\/p>\n

And after that the dark!<\/p>\n

And may there be no sadness of farewell,<\/p>\n

When I embark;<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

For tho’ from out our bourne[3]<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0of Time and Place<\/p>\n

The flood may bear me far,<\/p>\n

I hope to see my Pilot face to face<\/p>\n

When I have crost the bar.<\/p>\n

\u20141889<\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

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Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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