Sabbath Morning at Sea Poem Analysis
"Sabbath Morning at Sea" is a poem by English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, published in her 1844 collection "Poems." The poem captures the spiritual experience of a person observing the Sabbath morning while out at sea. Here is the full text of the poem:
The ship went on with solemn face;
To meet the darkness on the deep,
The solemn ship went onward.
I bowed down weary in the place;
For parting tears and present sleep
Had weighed mine eyelids downward.
The new sight, the new wondrous sight!
The waters around me, turbulent,
The skies, impassive o'er me,
Calm in a moonless, sunless light,
As glorified by even the intent
Of holding the day glory!
Love me, sweet friends, this Sabbath day.
The sea sings round me while ye roll
Afar the hymn, unaltered,
And kneel, where once we knelt to pray,
And bless me, deeper in your soul
Because your voice has faltered.
And though this sabbath comes to me
Without the voice of minister,
Or shouting of the choirly
Isles, I too, at home, will see
The long Church-windows beautifully
Abroad with silent fire.
But peace! I will not think that thought
Thus harbored in my inmost breast
Will freeze my bosom colder.
I’ll lean to you, this Sabbath morn,
As though our very hearts were pressed
Each unto each's shoulder!
Through the six stanzas of the poem, the speaker conveys their emotional and spiritual experience while contemplating the Sabbath at sea. The poem uses vivid imagery and a sense of longing to explore themes of faith, connection, and the power of nature.
The poem begins with the speaker describing the solemnity of the ship moving through the darkness of the sea. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes a sense of isolation as the speaker is separated from their familiar surroundings and routines.
The second stanza introduces the "new wondrous sight" of the sea and sky, which are described as "calm in a moonless, sunless light." This imagery suggests the majesty and mystery of nature, which is presented as a manifestation of divine glory. The absence of the sun and moon highlights the unique beauty of this Sabbath morning at sea.
In the third stanza, the speaker addresses their friends who are far away, asking them to love and pray for them on this Sabbath day. The distance between the speaker and their friends is emphasized by the "afar" hymn and the faltering voices, suggesting a longing for connection and spiritual community.
The fourth stanza acknowledges that the speaker does not have access to the usual elements of a Sabbath service, such as a minister or a choir. However, they take comfort in imagining the familiar sight of the long church windows back home, which are described as being "beautifully abroad with silent fire." This metaphor conveys a sense of warmth and belonging, even as the speaker is physically removed from their spiritual community.
The fifth stanza reveals the speaker's internal struggle, as they fear that their thoughts might "freeze" their heart. This line emphasizes the challenges of maintaining faith and spiritual warmth in the face of isolation and distance.
In the final stanza, the speaker seeks comfort in their friends' presence, metaphorically leaning on them as if their hearts were pressed together. This image conveys a sense of unity and mutual support, despite the physical separation that exists between them.
Overall, "Sabbath Morning at Sea" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores themes of faith, connection, and the beauty of nature. Through rich imagery and a strong sense of longing, the poem captures the complex emotional landscape of experiencing the Sabbath in a distant and unfamiliar setting