Crossing the Bar

"Crossing the Bar"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson

I first noticed the rhyme scheme in this play.  The first and third and the second and fourth lines rhyme.  The poem is also divided into four stanzas, each with four lines.  The even-numbered lines are also indented and shorter than the other lines.  Another important feature of the poem was the capitalization of pilot in line 15.  It brings a religious focus to the poem as though God is his Pilot and possibly maker--"I hope to see my Pilot face to face" (Alfred, page 886).  Pilot also implies that someone had helped him through life, and he wanted to see him when he "crossed the bar."  I think Alfred also wants to proclaim that he does not wish people to be upset when he passes.  He wants a calm, peaceful transition from his current state to the meeting with his Pilot.  Alfred also utilizes exclamation points twice in this poem, which implies his confidence in his calling.  The second time, he uses it to exclaim how he expects the after life to be.