As
thro' the Land at Eve We Went
by
Alfred Tennyson
(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)
As
thro' the Land at Eve We Went
As
thro' the land at eve we went,
And
pluck'd the ripen'd ears,
We
fell out, my wife and I,
O
we fell out I know not why,
And
kiss'd again with tears.
And
blessings on the falling out
That
all the more endears,
When
we fall out with those we love
And
kiss again with tears!
For
when we came where lies the child
We
lost in other years,
There
above the little grave,
O
there above the little grave,
We
kiss'd again with tears.
Summary
Alfred,
Lord Tennyson’s poem “As thro’ the Land at Eve We Went” is a short yet
profoundly moving piece that captures the intimate emotional landscape of human
relationships, particularly the tender bonds of love, loss, and reconciliation.
Though brief in form, the poem traces a poignant narrative through a series of
evocative images and simple yet deeply expressive language. It opens with the
speaker recounting an evening walk taken through the land with his wife, a
setting that immediately situates the reader in a serene, pastoral environment.
The imagery of wandering “thro’ the land at eve” evokes the soft, dim light of
twilight, suggesting both a literal time of day and a metaphorical moment of
reflection and introspection. In this quiet and reflective atmosphere, the
couple engages in a simple, universal activity—plucking ripened ears of grain.
This act, seemingly mundane, grounds the poem in a shared, intimate human
experience, establishing the setting as one of everyday life while
simultaneously imbuing it with symbolic significance. The ripened ears may
symbolize the fullness of life or the fruition of shared experiences, hinting
at a life lived together with moments of both joy and challenge.
As
the poem progresses, a subtle shift occurs in the emotional tone. The speaker
admits that during this walk, he and his wife “fell out,” though he confesses
uncertainty about the reason. This moment of discord introduces a key theme of
the poem: the fragility and imperfection inherent in human relationships.
Tennyson’s choice to present this quarrel as almost inexplicable underscores
the idea that in even the closest, most loving bonds, misunderstandings and
conflicts naturally arise. The fact that the speaker cannot pinpoint the cause
reflects a universal truth—sometimes disagreements emerge not from major
conflicts but from the small, unspoken tensions of daily life. This ambiguity
also highlights the poet’s sensitivity to the subtleties of human emotion,
portraying not a dramatic or catastrophic argument but a quiet lapse, a gentle
discord that is relatable to all readers.
Despite
this moment of separation, the poem immediately moves toward reconciliation,
emphasizing the enduring strength of love. Tennyson writes that after this
falling out, the couple “kiss’d again with tears,” a line that is repeated
throughout the poem to reinforce its emotional resonance. The repetition
creates a rhythmic echo, mirroring the cyclical nature of conflict and
resolution in human relationships. The act of kissing, combined with the
shedding of tears, conveys a powerful blend of sorrow and affection. It is not
merely a gesture of physical intimacy but a profound symbol of forgiveness,
empathy, and renewed connection. Through this imagery, Tennyson suggests that
moments of disagreement can deepen the emotional bond between individuals when
met with understanding, compassion, and the willingness to reconcile. The
juxtaposition of conflict and tenderness encapsulates the poem’s central
emotional trajectory, portraying love as resilient and dynamic, capable of
encompassing both pain and joy.
The
poem’s narrative takes on an additional layer of poignancy when the couple
arrives at the grave of a child they have lost in earlier years. This moment
introduces the theme of grief and the enduring impact of loss within the sphere
of intimate relationships. The visit to the child’s grave situates the poem
within a temporal and emotional continuum, connecting past sorrows with present
experiences. Tennyson’s imagery here is delicate yet heart-rending, as the
couple’s act of kissing once again over the child’s resting place intertwines
love and mourning. The repetition of the line “we kiss’d again with tears” in
this context emphasizes the way grief and love coexist, suggesting that even in
moments of profound sorrow, human connection provides comfort, solace, and a
means of navigating the complexities of emotion. The gravesite scene also
reinforces the poem’s overarching meditation on the cycles of life—birth, love,
conflict, loss, and reconciliation—illustrating the continuity of human
experience across time and circumstance.
Throughout
the poem, Tennyson employs simple language and clear imagery to evoke deep
emotional truths. The pastoral setting, the evening walk, the plucking of
grain, and the gravesite visit all function as tangible anchors for universal
experiences of love, conflict, reconciliation, and grief. The poem’s brevity
amplifies its emotional impact, as every line is carefully constructed to
convey layers of feeling with precision and grace. The recurring motif of the
kiss paired with tears acts as an emotional throughline, unifying the poem’s
narrative and reinforcing its meditation on the interplay between sorrow and
affection. By presenting moments of both discord and tenderness in succession,
Tennyson offers a nuanced depiction of human relationships that is at once
realistic and deeply empathetic.
In
conclusion, “As thro’ the Land at Eve We Went” is a lyrical exploration of
love, conflict, and reconciliation, framed within the context of ordinary life
and profound loss. Tennyson captures the quiet, often overlooked moments that
define human experience: a walk at twilight, the plucking of grain, a small
quarrel, a tender kiss, and the act of remembering a lost child. These moments,
though individually modest, coalesce into a rich narrative that resonates with
universal human emotions. The poem emphasizes that love is not static or
untroubled but is instead strengthened through understanding, forgiveness, and
shared grief. Its repeated imagery of kissing with tears serves as both a
literal and symbolic expression of enduring connection, highlighting the
resilience of affection even in the face of sorrow and misunderstanding.
Through its delicate narrative and vivid emotional landscape, the poem invites
readers to reflect on the beauty, fragility, and profundity of human bonds,
illustrating the timeless truth that love, when coupled with empathy and
forgiveness, endures beyond moments of conflict and loss.
Line-by-line
Paraphrase
Line
1: As thro’ the land at eve we went,
->
We walked together through the countryside in the evening.
Line
2: And pluck'd the ripen'd ears,
->
We picked the fully grown grains from the fields.
Line
3: We fell out, my wife and I,
->
My wife and I had a disagreement.
Line
4: O we fell out I know not why,
->
Oh, I don’t even know what caused the quarrel.
Line
5: And kiss'd again with tears.
->
But soon after, we reconciled, kissing each other with tears of emotion.
Line
6: And blessings on the falling out
->
Even arguments bring their own blessings.
Line
7: That all the more endears,
->
Because they make us appreciate each other even more.
Line
8: When we fall out with those we love
->
When we have disagreements with people we truly care for,
Line
9: And kiss again with tears!
->
And then reconcile with tears, the love feels even deeper.
Line
10: For when we came where lies the child
->
Later, we came to the place where our child is buried,
Line
11: We lost in other years,
->
A child we had lost years ago,
Line
12: There above the little grave,
->
Standing there above the small grave,
Line
13: O there above the little grave,
->
Oh yes, there, right above that little grave,
Line
14: We kiss'd again with tears.
->
We embraced each other, kissing once more, shedding tears of love and sorrow.
Analysis
in Detail
Alfred,
Lord Tennyson’s poem “As thro’ the Land at Eve We Went” is a short but
emotionally rich work that exemplifies the poet’s mastery in expressing the
subtleties of human relationships. Though compact in length, the poem explores
complex themes such as love, conflict, reconciliation, grief, and the enduring
bonds of family. Tennyson’s skill lies in his ability to combine simplicity of
language with profound emotional depth, making the poem accessible while
resonating deeply with readers.
The
poem opens with the line “As thro’ the land at eve we went,” immediately
situating the reader in a pastoral and tranquil setting. The imagery of the
evening walk evokes both the literal time of day and a symbolic moment of
reflection. Evening, often associated with calm, introspection, and the closing
of a day, serves as an apt backdrop for a narrative that is as much about inner
emotional states as it is about physical activity. The act of walking together
through the land, paired with the seemingly mundane task of plucking ripened
ears of grain, establishes a sense of shared intimacy and connection between
the speaker and his wife. The grain may symbolize the fruits of their shared
life experiences, suggesting both abundance and the natural cycles of growth,
maturation, and harvest.
A
turning point occurs when the speaker confesses that he and his wife “fell out”
during their walk. The admission of a quarrel, combined with the statement “O
we fell out I know not why,” introduces the theme of human imperfection and the
inevitability of conflict, even among the closest companions. Tennyson’s choice
to leave the cause of the disagreement unspecified emphasizes that small, often
inexplicable tensions are part of human relationships. The ambiguity also
allows readers to project their own experiences of minor disputes onto the poem,
enhancing its universality. By presenting this conflict within the larger frame
of a peaceful evening walk, Tennyson underscores the idea that disagreements,
though inevitable, do not overshadow the enduring bonds of love.
The
poem quickly moves toward reconciliation, a transition marked by the repeated
line “And kiss’d again with tears.” This refrain is central to the poem’s
emotional impact, serving as both a literal description of affection and a
symbolic representation of forgiveness and emotional renewal. The act of
kissing, combined with the shedding of tears, conveys a powerful blend of
sorrow and tenderness. It suggests that reconciliation is most profound when
accompanied by genuine emotional expression, and that moments of discord can
ultimately deepen love and understanding. Tennyson’s repetition of this line
reinforces its thematic significance, creating a lyrical rhythm that mirrors
the ebb and flow of human emotion.
The
final section of the poem introduces the theme of grief and the enduring presence
of loss. The speaker recounts a visit to the grave of a child lost in previous
years, situating the poem within a temporal and emotional continuum. This
moment expands the poem’s exploration of human emotion from transient
disagreements to the more permanent sorrow of loss. Standing above the child’s
grave, the couple once again kisses with tears, intertwining grief with love
and reinforcing the idea that emotional bonds persist despite life’s hardships.
The repeated motif of kissing with tears emphasizes the resilience of love and
the interconnection of joy and sorrow in human experience.
Tennyson’s
use of simplicity in language is a key feature of the poem. Each line is clear
and direct, yet imbued with layers of meaning. The pastoral imagery, the
evening setting, and the symbolic actions of walking, plucking grain, and
visiting a grave all contribute to a narrative that is both grounded in
everyday life and elevated by emotional resonance. The poem’s brevity is
deceptive; its compact form contains a rich tapestry of emotional experience,
capturing the complexities of human relationships in just a few stanzas. By
focusing on small, intimate moments, Tennyson illustrates the profound impact
of ordinary acts of connection, reconciliation, and remembrance.
In
conclusion, “As thro’ the Land at Eve We Went” is a masterful meditation on
love, conflict, reconciliation, and grief. Through its vivid imagery, lyrical
repetition, and emotional authenticity, the poem captures the nuanced interplay
of human emotions within intimate relationships. Tennyson presents love as
dynamic and resilient, capable of withstanding minor disputes and enduring
through profound loss. The repeated motif of kissing with tears serves as a
poignant reminder of the power of forgiveness and the enduring strength of
emotional bonds. Ultimately, the poem celebrates the beauty of human connection
in all its complexity, portraying both its fragility and its enduring capacity
to heal, console, and unite.
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