Crossing the Bar

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,
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 crost the bar.

About This Poem

Crossing the Bar was one of the last poems Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote. He asked for it to appear at the end of every collection of his work, which says something about what it meant to him. The poem compares the end of life to setting sail. There is no drama in the journey. Instead, the words move gently from evening towards the hope of meeting the “Pilot” beyond the horizon.

For some people, this poem brings comfort through its quiet confidence. For others, it is simply a beautiful piece of writing that has been shared at funerals for generations.

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