Stability and Exploration

The dichotomy between comfortable familiarity and uncomfortable discovery is succinctly summarized in the closing lines, but is hinted at throughout the poem. The speaker describes a number of individuals who pass through the setting, suggesting that while these people are on their way somewhere else, the speaker remains static. This suggests that in this context, the speaker prefers to be an observer rather than an active participant in these adventures. It’s worth considering the contrast presented in the opening lines, which describe characters in their plurality: “old women” and “young lovers” (Lines 1, 3). The speaker, on the other hand, is alone. Part of their stability comes from the fact that they put their trust in no one, protecting themselves while also limiting their breadth of experience.

At the end, the speaker takes a moment to reflect on what they’ve seen along the journeys...