We and the labouring world are passing by: Amid men's souls, that waver and give place Like the pale waters in their wintry race, Under the passing stars, foam of the sky, Lives on this lonely face.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Humanity and laborers move forward through time, while individual souls may feel transient and insubstantial compared to the vast cosmos.
- In plain terms
- People and workers pass through life like fleeting waves under the stars, but one unique spirit remains.
- What can you take from it?
- Individual identity persists despite the transience of collective human existence.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What makes a face lonely?
- How do we endure passing stars?
Another view
The metaphor relies heavily on poetic imagery that may obscure literal meaning.
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