Lord Alfred Tennyson‘s "Crossing the Bar" : Spiritual Discourse on the Aftermath of Life

“One has to die some day or other, and one cannot die a better death than Jesus. It is his death that brought a revolution into the consciousness of humanity.”  Osho (The Dhammapada)

Lord Alfred Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar": Beyond Life's Horizon, Exploring the Spiritual Journey

Introduction:

Lord Alfred Tennyson

Lord Alfred Tennyson, one of the most celebrated Victorian poets, goes through the profound themes of life, death, and the spiritual journey in his iconic poem, "Crossing the Bar."  In facr,  Lord Alfred Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar" is a highly charged spiritual discourse on the aftermath of life. It is a philosophic discourse on the subject of death. However, the central issue in this poem is the personal vision of death presented through the analogical metaphors of sea voyage. In fact, Lord Alfred Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar" is allegorical and steeped in deep symbolic meaning from the beginning to the end. The entire poem is deeply suggestive lesson of final journey of life towards death set forth in the metaphoric language of sea voyage.Through vivid imagery, lyrical language, and contemplative verses, Tennyson invites readers to reflect upon the transcendent nature of the human experience and ponder the mysteries that lie beyond the threshold of life. 

The Poem's Imagery and Symbolism:

Tennyson employs powerful imagery and symbolic elements in "Crossing the Bar" to convey the spiritual discourse surrounding the passage from life to the afterlife. The "bar" itself represents the barrier between the earthly realm and the realm beyond, serving as a metaphor for the final transition. The image of the " Twilight and evening bell" signifies the liminal space where the individual stands between life and death, caught between the fading light of existence and the beckoning call of eternity. These evocative symbols evoke a sense of anticipation and the contemplation of the unknown.

Poet Tennyson feels that his life is fast coming to a close. He expresses this feeling allegorically when he says, “Sunset and evening star,/And one clear call for me!” what he wants to say is that the sun of life is setting and he hears the clear call of death in the approaching evening. To put it in other words, the poet’s soul whispers in him that the time has come when he must depart for the next world and it must be the voice of the god bidding him ready. Thus the poet feels that the hour is come when he will embark the ship, leave the harbour, cross the bar and pass on to the unknown sea. Tennyson uses this allegory to suggest his eternal departure from this world, the unknown sea standing for the world beyond the grave. In this poem life on earth is compared to harbour and life after death to the vast expanse of the unknown sea. The word “bar” allegorically means the barrier between life and death. The expression “crossing the bar” allegorically means going out of the “bourne of Time and Place” and meeting death. The movement of the individual soul to the infinity is presented through the image of a sea- journey.

Again, the expression “moaning of the bar” conveys an allegorical meaning. The moaning of the bar, i.e., the roughness of the sea, causes anxiety in the voyager’s mind and makes him hesitate to cross the bar. So the poet wishes that there should be no moaning of the bar so that his mind may be free from fears and troubled feeling when he “puts out to the sea”. Here the “twilight and evening bell” is suggestive of death. And the line “when I embark” means “the time when the poet embarks on a voyage to eternity. So the word “pilot” here stands for no other than god, the poet’s divine guide. The poet’s hope to see his pilot face to face renders him courage and confidence to cross the bar and sail into the dark and unknown reign of death:

“I hope to see my Pilot face to face

    When I have crost the bar.”

The Journey of the Soul:

Within the poem, Tennyson explores the spiritual journey of the soul as it confronts the inevitability of death. The speaker acknowledges the transitory nature of life, referring to the "ebb" and "flow" of time, highlighting the cyclical patterns of existence. The poem encourages readers to embrace the concept of life as a voyage, with the crossing of the bar signifying the soul's journey beyond mortal boundaries. Tennyson's contemplation prompts us to reflect on the eternal aspect of our being, fostering a sense of curiosity and wonder about what lies beyond the confines of our earthly existence:

"Twilight and evening bell,

      And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

      When I embark;"

Embracing the Unknown:

"Crossing the Bar" invites readers to confront their fear of the unknown and find solace in the notion of spiritual transcendence. The poem exudes a sense of acceptance and surrender to the natural course of life, suggesting that death should not be feared but rather embraced as a part of the eternal cycle of existence. Tennyson's portrayal of a serene and peaceful crossing implies a belief in a higher spiritual reality and the promise of a blissful afterlife, offering comfort and hope to those grappling with the mysteries of mortality:

"For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

      The flood may bear me far,"

Universality of the Spiritual Journey:

Although deeply rooted in Tennyson's personal beliefs and experiences, "Crossing the Bar" holds a universal appeal that resonates across different cultures and belief systems. The poem's exploration of the spiritual realm transcends religious boundaries, inviting readers from various backgrounds to contemplate the nature of life, death, and the afterlife. Its underlying message of spiritual awakening and transformation serves as a unifying force, fostering a shared understanding of the human condition and our collective longing for transcendence.

Conclusion:

"Crossing the Bar" stands as a profound spiritual discourse on the aftermath of life, encapsulating Lord Alfred Tennyson's contemplation of mortality, transcendence, and the journey of the soul. Through its vivid imagery, symbolic motifs, and thought-provoking verses, the poem offers solace, hope, and a profound invitation to embrace the mysteries that lie beyond the threshold of life. Again, "Crossing the Bar" is full of thought much in-depth in comprehending the mind of the old poet. Nevertheless, the philosophic verse with its images, its symbols, and its wealth of color interestingly presented the poet’s reflections on death, his hopes and wishes before us. Most interestingly, Tennyson's "Crossing the Bar" is philosophic in theme, but largely epical in manner.

  Ardhendu De

(Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) fell seriously ill in 1888-89. He thought he was going to die, but slowly he came round. While crossing the Solent he puts down his reflections on death, and the result is Crossing the Bar.)

References

Alfred, Lord Tennyson : Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Baron, 1809-1892 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/alfredlordtennys0000tenn_m3h6