Afterwards Comments

A tremendous poem reflecting on the brevity of human exsistence. Impending death humbles us all and we hope to be remembered.

The poem is written like an epitaph where the poet reflects on the general view of himself after he is dead. The first stanza begins where the poet has died and the coming of spring. He questions if his neighbours will remember his appreciation for the season; his love of nature; trying to help innocent creatures and adds the sceptical explanation that when he is dead he will no longer be able to help them. Reflecting in the fourth stanza that he will be unable to see the winter night sky he makes it clear that he hopes to be remembered for his appreciation of it and its mysteries. Finally he reflects on the sound of his death knell and asks if he will be able to hear it. In conclusion the poet perhaps senses he will not be remebered in the way he would like to be. There is a feeling of insecurity, scepticism and realism in these lines.