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Crossing The Bar

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Crossing The Bar Poem Verses

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 though 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.

Audio Recording

Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Crossing The Bar' can be tailored/personalised

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Please note the audio recording may not exactly match the text version as 'Crossing The Bar' can be tailored/personalised

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Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

The poem "Crossing the Bar" is about the speaker's acceptance of his own mortality and his hope for a peaceful and easy passage into the afterlife. The poem describes the speaker's desire for a calm and gentle tide as he sets sail into the unknown, hoping to meet his "Pilot," or God, on the other side. The poem suggests that death is not something to fear, but rather a natural part of life's journey, and that the soul may find peace and reunion with the divine after passing through the "bar," or barrier between life and death.

The Structure of Poem

The poem consists of four stanzas with four lines each. The rhyme scheme is ABAB. The poem expresses the speaker's acceptance of their approaching death and their hope to meet their "Pilot" (likely a reference to God or a spiritual guide) after crossing over to the afterlife. The first stanza describes the speaker's desire for a peaceful and serene death. The second stanza transitions to the evening and the hope for a peaceful farewell. The third stanza reflects on the journey beyond this life, while the fourth stanza expresses hope and the speaker's desire to meet their Pilot.

Best Quote from Crossing The Bar Poem

This is a quote from the poem Crossing The Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson

"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."

This opening stanza of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Crossing the Bar" beautifully captures the sense of peaceful transition from life to death, with the imagery of a calm sea and clear call beckoning the speaker towards his final journey.