# An Old Song explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Edward Thomas.

## What happens

The speaker describes a tranquil evening by the sea, where a unique light forms a bridge across the water, and a robin sings. He repeats a refrain from an old sailors' song about roving and a fair maid, blending the charm of the song with the dusk atmosphere.

## Themes in this chapter

### Solitude and Reflection

The speaker experiences a solitary moment by the sea, with a unique light bridge visible only to him, and reflects through the old song.

### Love and Loss

The old song's refrain about roving and a fair maid evokes themes of romantic longing and the consequences of wandering.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker who walks elate by the sea, observes the light bridge, and repeats the old song.

### The Winter Thrush

A robin that sings in the shade, contributing to the scene's tranquility.

## Key lines

> The sun set, the wind fell, the sea Was like a mirror shaking:

As the sun went down, the wind died and the sea became still, trembling like a mirror.

_Describes the calm evening setting._

> A light divided the swollen clouds And lay most perfectly Like a straight narrow footbridge bright That crossed over the sea to me;

A beam of light split the heavy clouds and formed a perfect, narrow, bright bridge across the sea toward me.

_The unique light phenomenon observed by the speaker._

> I’ll go no more a-roving With you, fair maid.

I will no longer wander with you, beautiful woman.

_The refrain from the old song that the speaker repeats._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/an-old-song
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_5_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters