And ask ye why these sad tears stream? by Alfred Tennyson (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

And ask ye why these sad tears stream?

by Alfred Tennyson

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis) 

And ask ye why these sad tears stream?

‘Te somnia nostra reducunt.’ — OVID

 

And ask ye why these sad tears stream?

Why these wan eyes are dim with weeping?

I had a dream—a lovely dream,

Of her that in the grave is sleeping.

 

I saw her as 'twas yesterday,

The bloom upon her cheek still glowing;

And round her play'd a golden ray,

And on her brows were gay flowers blowing.

 

With angel-hand she swept a lyre,

A garland red with roses bound it;

Its strings were wreath'd with lambent fire

And amaranth was woven round it.

 

I saw her mid the realms of light,

In everlasting radiance gleaming;

Co-equal with the seraphs bright,

Mid thousand thousand angels beaming.

 

I strove to reach her, when, behold,

Those fairy forms of bliss Elysian,

And all that rich scene wrapt in gold,

Faded in air—a lovely vision!

 

And I awoke, but oh! to me

That waking hour was doubly weary;

And yet I could not envy thee,

Although so blest, and I so dreary.

 

Summary

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem “And Ask Ye Why These Sad Tears Stream?” is a poignant and melancholic reflection on grief, memory, and the fleeting nature of human joy in contrast to the eternal serenity of the afterlife. At its core, the poem explores the intense emotional response of the speaker to the loss of a loved one, capturing both the lingering sorrow of earthly separation and the transcendent beauty of the beloved in a heavenly realm. The poem opens with a direct and intimate question: why does the speaker shed such “sad tears” and why are the eyes “wan with weeping”? This opening immediately situates the reader in a state of contemplation and emotional intensity, as it hints at a deeper narrative of loss and remembrance.

The speaker then reveals that the source of this sorrow is a dream—a “lovely dream” in which he envisions the person who has passed away. The phrase “of her that in the grave is sleeping” establishes the deceased’s finality in death while simultaneously introducing the dream as a medium through which the speaker reconnects with her. The dream, however, is not merely a passive recollection of the past; it is a vivid and almost tangible encounter, one in which the deceased appears in a form of idealized beauty. Tennyson emphasizes her enduring charm and radiance, describing the “bloom upon her cheek still glowing” and the “golden ray” that surrounds her. Through these images, the poem underscores the immortality of her essence, preserved in memory and dream, contrasting with the decay and finality of the physical grave.

As the vision unfolds, the speaker observes the deceased engaged in ethereal activity: she sweeps a lyre, a symbol of harmony and celestial music, and is adorned with a garland interwoven with roses and amaranth. These elements—the lyre, the garland, and the interplay of light and flowers—evoke both the delicate beauty of mortal life and the purity of the spiritual realm. The garland of roses, traditionally a symbol of love and passion, together with the amaranth, a flower associated with immortality, reinforces the idea that the beloved’s virtues and essence transcend earthly life. The lyre, with its strings “wreath’d with lambent fire,” represents not only music but also the spiritual resonance that binds the speaker’s memory of the beloved with an eternal and sublime reality.

The poem then moves to a more expansive depiction of the heavenly realm. The speaker witnesses the deceased amid “realms of light” and “everlasting radiance,” standing among the seraphs and shining with countless angels. This vision evokes the grandeur and purity of the afterlife, presenting a stark contrast to the speaker’s own sorrowful and limited mortal existence. In this celestial environment, the deceased is elevated to a state of blissful perfection, untouchable and untarnished by human frailty or suffering. Tennyson’s imagery of light and radiance serves to heighten the sense of spiritual transcendence, illustrating the eternal beauty and serenity that awaits the virtuous beyond earthly life.

Despite the beauty and serenity of the vision, the speaker experiences a profound sense of longing and frustration. He attempts to reach the beloved, but she and the surrounding vision vanish, leaving only the ephemeral memory of her presence. The fleeting nature of the dream emphasizes the inaccessibility of the deceased and the impossibility of bridging the gap between life and death. The contrast between the vivid, luminous dream and the speaker’s return to the waking world intensifies his grief, as he must confront the permanence of loss. The awakening is described as “doubly weary,” reflecting both the exhaustion of the emotional experience and the stark confrontation with reality.

Yet, even amid sorrow, the speaker exhibits a measure of spiritual and emotional insight. He acknowledges the beloved’s blessed state in the afterlife, recognizing her peace and radiance. Though he himself remains “dreary,” he does not envy her celestial bliss. This acceptance introduces a subtle tension between mourning and reverence, highlighting the complex interplay of grief, memory, and spiritual awareness. The poem concludes without resolution in the form of emotional relief; instead, it leaves the reader with a nuanced understanding of human sorrow—deeply personal, inescapable, yet tempered by the recognition of the beloved’s eternal happiness.

In summary, Tennyson’s “And Ask Ye Why These Sad Tears Stream?” is a meditation on loss, memory, and the transcendence of the soul. The poem’s narrative unfolds through the speaker’s dream, in which the deceased is depicted in radiant, ethereal beauty, participating in harmonious and celestial activities. The dream conveys both the allure of immortality and the impossibility of reuniting with the departed, while the awakening underscores the sorrowful reality of human existence. Throughout, Tennyson balances vivid imagery with profound emotional depth, presenting a portrait of grief that is at once personal, universal, and spiritually reflective. The poem captures the tension between earthly sorrow and heavenly joy, illustrating the enduring impact of love, memory, and loss on the human heart.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

And ask ye why these sad tears stream?

-> Why do you wonder that I am crying so sorrowfully?

 

Why these wan eyes are dim with weeping?

-> Why are my eyes pale and full of tears?

 

I had a dream—a lovely dream,

-> I experienced a dream—a beautiful, vivid dream—

 

Of her that in the grave is sleeping.

-> In which I saw the woman who has passed away and now rests in the grave.

 

I saw her as 'twas yesterday,

-> She appeared to me as if no time had passed, just as she was yesterday.

 

The bloom upon her cheek still glowing;

-> Her cheeks still shone with the lively color they had in life.

 

And round her play'd a golden ray,

-> A halo of golden light seemed to surround her.

 

And on her brows were gay flowers blowing.

-> Bright, cheerful flowers adorned her forehead.

 

With angel-hand she swept a lyre,

-> She played a lyre delicately, as though guided by angelic hands.

 

A garland red with roses bound it;

-> The lyre was decorated with a garland of red roses.

 

Its strings were wreath'd with lambent fire

-> The strings of the lyre seemed to glow with a soft, flickering light.

 

And amaranth was woven round it.

-> And amaranth flowers, symbolizing immortality, were woven around it.

 

I saw her mid the realms of light,

-> I saw her in a radiant, heavenly realm filled with light.

 

In everlasting radiance gleaming;

-> She shone with eternal brilliance.

 

Co-equal with the seraphs bright,

-> She appeared on the same level as the shining seraphs (angels).

 

Mid thousand thousand angels beaming.

-> Surrounded by countless angels radiating light.

 

I strove to reach her, when, behold,

-> I tried to approach her, but then I noticed—

 

Those fairy forms of bliss Elysian,

-> The ethereal figures of the blissful Elysian realm,

 

And all that rich scene wrapt in gold,

-> And the entire magnificent golden scene,

 

Faded in air—a lovely vision!

-> Suddenly disappeared into the air—it was only a beautiful vision.

 

And I awoke, but oh! to me

-> I woke up, but for me,

 

That waking hour was doubly weary;

-> That moment of waking felt even more tiring and sorrowful;

 

And yet I could not envy thee,

-> Yet, I did not feel jealousy toward her,

 

Although so blest, and I so dreary.

-> Even though she was blessed in heaven, and I remained so sad and miserable.

 

Analysis in Detail

Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem “And Ask Ye Why These Sad Tears Stream?” is a poignant meditation on grief, loss, memory, and the contrast between mortal suffering and the serene, eternal bliss of the afterlife. The poem, through its imagery, tone, and structure, conveys the intensity of human sorrow while simultaneously highlighting the transcendence of the beloved beyond earthly life. In this analysis, we can explore Tennyson’s thematic concerns, literary techniques, and the emotional and spiritual layers embedded in the work.

At the heart of the poem is the theme of mourning and remembrance. The speaker begins by directly addressing the question of why he weeps, immediately engaging the reader with the emotional core of the work. The “sad tears” and “wan eyes” signal profound grief, indicating a sorrow that is not superficial but deeply rooted in personal loss. This grief is not fleeting; it is intimately tied to memory, as the speaker recalls the deceased through a dream. Tennyson’s choice to frame the encounter with the deceased as a dream is significant. It allows him to explore the interplay between reality and imagination, the temporal and the eternal, and the living and the dead. Dreams in the poem act as a bridge, connecting the mortal world, where sorrow prevails, with the spiritual realm, where the deceased exists in beauty and perfection.

Imagery plays a central role in conveying both grief and transcendence. The deceased is described in luminous, almost otherworldly terms: her cheeks are “still glowing,” and she is surrounded by a “golden ray.” Such imagery not only emphasizes her enduring beauty but also imbues her with a sense of immortality. Tennyson further enriches this vision through symbolic details: the lyre she plays represents harmony and spiritual resonance, while the garland of roses and amaranth evokes love and immortality. By combining earthly symbols of beauty and spiritual motifs, Tennyson underscores the duality of human memory and divine perfection—the deceased is remembered in human terms but elevated to a divine, almost angelic status in the dream.

The celestial setting of the poem expands the theme of transcendence. The speaker witnesses the deceased amidst “realms of light” and among countless angels, even co-equal with the seraphs. This depiction of heaven emphasizes purity, harmony, and eternal joy, contrasting sharply with the speaker’s own sorrowful, finite existence. By portraying the afterlife in such vivid, radiant imagery, Tennyson communicates the idea that death, while a source of grief, also brings release and sublime peace to the departed. The contrast between the ephemeral dream and the permanent reality of human mortality accentuates the emotional tension of the poem: beauty and joy are accessible only temporarily in the speaker’s imagination, leaving him to confront loss upon awakening.

The poem’s structure and rhythm enhance its emotional resonance. Tennyson’s use of regular quatrains with a gentle, flowing meter mirrors the movement between grief and dream, reality and imagination. The repetition of sounds and careful arrangement of words create a lyrical quality that mirrors the musicality of the lyre within the poem itself. This musicality deepens the reader’s emotional engagement, echoing the speaker’s internal oscillation between mourning and awe.

Another notable aspect is the poem’s treatment of human emotion and spiritual insight. The speaker’s grief is sincere and intense, yet it is tempered by the recognition of the deceased’s blessed state in the afterlife. This acceptance demonstrates a layered understanding of mortality: grief does not diminish love or memory, but awareness of divine order provides a measure of solace. The concluding lines reflect a balance between sorrow and reverence, emphasizing the moral and spiritual dimension of mourning. The poem suggests that while humans must endure pain and loss, there is comfort in the knowledge that loved ones rest in eternal peace and beauty.

Tennyson also explores the transience of earthly experience. The dream, no matter how vivid and emotionally powerful, fades into air, leaving the speaker in “doubly weary” sorrow. This fleeting quality reinforces the central theme of human vulnerability and mortality. At the same time, the poem asserts the enduring nature of spiritual memory and love, suggesting that grief is meaningful precisely because it arises from deep attachment and the awareness of what has been lost.

In conclusion, “And Ask Ye Why These Sad Tears Stream?” is a rich meditation on the human response to loss, memory, and the tension between mortality and the eternal. Through vivid imagery, symbolic elements, and a carefully crafted lyrical structure, Tennyson portrays grief not merely as suffering but as a conduit to spiritual reflection. The poem captures the universal experience of mourning while elevating it to a contemplation of divine order and eternal beauty. The speaker’s oscillation between sorrow and reverence mirrors the human struggle to reconcile earthly suffering with hope in the afterlife, making the poem both emotionally resonant and spiritually profound. Ultimately, Tennyson transforms personal loss into a lyrical exploration of love, memory, and the eternal, leaving readers with a moving portrayal of grief tempered by spiritual insight.