The Edmondson Blog

Today is the 200th birthday of Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892). In his latter years he used to travel to the Isle of Wight for health reasons. On one occasion, his nurse said, "Sir, you have written about everything apart from death. Do write something about our final journey to God"

As he sat on deck he watched the bosun steering the boat into the twilight and wrote the poem Crossing The Bar:

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 crossed the bar.