I The moving sun-shapes on the spray, The sparkles where…
““I The moving sun-shapes on the spray, The sparkles where the brook was flowing, Pink faces, plightings, moonlit May, These were the things we wished would stay; But they were going. II Seasons of blankness as of snow, The silent bleed of a world decaying, The moan of multitudes in woe, These were the things we wished would go; But they were staying. III Then we looked closelier at Time, And saw his ghostly arms revolving To sweep off woeful things with prime, Things sinister with things sublime Alike dissolving. (Thomas Hardy - Going and Staying.)””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Life’s fleeting beauty and inevitable decay contrast, urging acceptance of change and the passage of time.
In simple terms: Beauty fades, decay persists; time moves everything.
Key Takeaway
Embrace impermanence and find peace.
Themes
impermanence
beauty
decay
time
reflection
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- nature appreciation
- creative writing
- spiritual practice
Key Concepts
philosophy
poetry
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this poem teach about holding onto memories?
- How can you honor change without grief?
A Different Perspective
Focusing on loss may overlook moments of joy.