Age

This poem is a contemplative exploration of the themes of aging, death, and nature. The speaker engages directly with "Age," personifying it as a harbinger of loss and inevitable mortality. Yet, the tone of the poem is not wholly bleak. The poet skillfully employs the metaphor of the "night-still bourne," or peaceful final resting place, to encapsulate the tranquility and release from toil that death may offer.

The structure of the poem, a six-line stanza, effectively supports the development of these themes. The first line ominously introduces the topic of loss, and the following lines gradually transition from the human experience of aging to the undisturbed continuity of the natural world, represented by the "linnet" and the "May morn." This juxtaposition suggests a poignant contrast between human mortality and nature's timeless cycle. The usage of vivid imagery, such as the linnet singing in the morning, contributes to the overall serene atmosphere, despite the solemn subject matter.

The final two lines underscore the oblivion that follows death — "Forgetful and forgotten" — yet, this is tempered by the image of a "grass-green sod" on the speaker's breast, symbolizing nature's comforting embrace. All in all, the poem beautifully intertwines the inevitable progression of age and death with nature's enduring cycle, offering a serene, if somewhat melancholic, perspective on mortality.