Love and Death
I found the perfect poem to put into my wedding program. Alfred Tennyson was my fathers favorite poet. So much so my brother is named after him. It took me about 15 min to understand this poem because either I'm either dumb, my reading comprehension sucks, the writing is too old school, or all of the above. Now that I understand the meaning I love the poem more and more.
Love and Death by Alfred Tennyson
What time the mighty moon was gathering light
Love paced the thymy plots of Paradise,
And all about him roll’d his lustrous eyes;
When, turning round a cassia, full in view,
Death, walking all alone beneath a yew,
And talking to himself, first met his sight.
‘You must begone,’ said Death, ‘these walks are mine.’
Love wept and spread his sheeny vans for flight;
Yet ere he parted said, ‘This hour is thine:
Thou art the shadow of life, and as the tree
Stands in the sun and shadows all beneath,
So in the light of great eternity
Life eminent creates the shade of death.
The shadow passeth when the tree shall fall,
But I shall reign for ever over all.’
In case you don't understand it either this is how I interrupt the poem. Light symbolizes Love and shadow symbolizes Death. Love was walking around in paradise and saw Death underneath a tree. Death saw Love and told Love to leave because area was Death's. Love cried and prepared to leave as the hour belonged to Death. Love told Death that it was the shadow of life. The tree stands in the light but the shadows are beneath it. Light is higher and it creates the shade. You cannot have Death without Life so Death is less prominent. When the tree falls there will be no more shadow and Love will rule for ever over all. Love is eternal while Death is just a moment in time.
Love and Death by Alfred Tennyson
What time the mighty moon was gathering light
Love paced the thymy plots of Paradise,
And all about him roll’d his lustrous eyes;
When, turning round a cassia, full in view,
Death, walking all alone beneath a yew,
And talking to himself, first met his sight.
‘You must begone,’ said Death, ‘these walks are mine.’
Love wept and spread his sheeny vans for flight;
Yet ere he parted said, ‘This hour is thine:
Thou art the shadow of life, and as the tree
Stands in the sun and shadows all beneath,
So in the light of great eternity
Life eminent creates the shade of death.
The shadow passeth when the tree shall fall,
But I shall reign for ever over all.’
In case you don't understand it either this is how I interrupt the poem. Light symbolizes Love and shadow symbolizes Death. Love was walking around in paradise and saw Death underneath a tree. Death saw Love and told Love to leave because area was Death's. Love cried and prepared to leave as the hour belonged to Death. Love told Death that it was the shadow of life. The tree stands in the light but the shadows are beneath it. Light is higher and it creates the shade. You cannot have Death without Life so Death is less prominent. When the tree falls there will be no more shadow and Love will rule for ever over all. Love is eternal while Death is just a moment in time.