Promise

This poem presents a reflective exploration of life, continuity, and the cyclical nature of existence. It employs vivid natural imagery as a metaphor for life's incessant evolution and progression. The mention of "countless upward-striving waves" and "moon-drawn tide-wave" in the initial lines alludes to the constant ebb and flow of life, suggesting the incessant push and pull of change and constancy.

The poem also introduces the theme of inheritance and continuation through the metaphor of "thousand far-transplanted grafts" where "the parent fruit survives". Here, the poet seems to suggest that despite changes and adaptations, the essence of life preserves itself in the new forms, just as the 'perfect Adam lives' in the 'new-born millions'. The tone is optimistic and reassuring, emphasizing the inherent beauty and joy in life's cyclical progression, as suggested in the lines about summer mornings bringing delight to every waking child. The poem's structure, with its consistent rhyming pattern, reinforces its theme of continuity, while the use of poetic devices like metaphor and personification enriches its imagery and emotional resonance.