The poem “We meet and part now over all the world” is a powerful and poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and love. The speaker, who is a member of a “lost company,” describes how they come together in the night to forget their troubles and find happiness in each other’s company. Despite the fact that they have “sought many things,” they ultimately throw everything away for the one thing that truly matters: the connection they share with each other.
The imagery of the “narrow grave” and the “armies” of death that are “crowding too near” serves to underscore the sense of urgency and longing that the speaker feels. They know that their time together is limited, and so they “lock [their] warm hand above the chilling heart” in an effort to hold on to the moment for just a little bit longer.
The final lines of the poem, in which the speaker describes the “dark preludes of the drums” and the way that death “draws his cordons in” around the group of lovers, serve to further intensify the sense of impending loss and grief. The poem ultimately leaves the reader with a sense of longing and sadness, as well as a sense of the profound importance of the connections we make with others in the face of our own mortality.
Here is a line-by-line analysis of the poem:
“We meet and part now over all the world;” – The speaker begins by establishing the theme of the poem – the fleeting nature of life and love. They suggest that they and their companions are a “lost company,” and that they are constantly meeting and parting in different locations around the world.
“we, the lost company,” – The repetition of “we” emphasizes the unity and connection between the speaker and the group they are describing.
“take hands together in the night, forget” – The speaker describes how they come together in the night to forget their troubles and find happiness in each other’s company.
“the night in our brief happiness, silently.” – The word “silently” emphasizes the intense and intimate nature of the connection they share.
“We, who sought many things, throw all away” – The speaker reflects on how, despite the fact that they had “sought many things” in life, they ultimately throw everything away for the one thing that truly matters: the connection they share with each other.
“for this one thing, one only,” – The repetition of “one” emphasizes the singular importance of this connection.
“remembering that in the narrow grave” – The imagery of the “narrow grave” serves to underscore the sense of urgency and longing that the speaker feels. They know that their time together is limited.
“we shall be lonely.” – The image of being alone in the grave is a poignant reminder of the ultimate isolation of death and the importance of human connection.
“Death marshalls up his armies round us now.” – The use of “armies” of death serves to emphasize the sense of impending loss and grief.
“Their footsteps crowd too near.” – The image of death’s “footsteps” getting closer and closer serves to intensify the sense of urgency and fear that the speaker feels.
“Lock your warm hand above the chilling heart” – The speaker urges their companion to hold on to the moment for just a little bit longer.
“and for a time I live without my fear.” – The act of holding hands with someone else provides the speaker with a sense of security and comfort.
“Grope in the night to find me and embrace,” – The use of the word “grope” emphasizes the sense of urgency and the need for connection in the face of impending loss.
“for the dark preludes of the drums begin,” – The “dark preludes of the drums” serve as a metaphor for the approach of death.
“and round us round the company of lovers,” – The repetition of “round” emphasizes the sense of being surrounded by death.
“death draws his cordons in.” – The use of the word “cordons” serves to further emphasize the sense of death closing in on the group of lovers.
Certainly, this poem is a powerful and poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and love, set against the backdrop of the Second World War. The speaker, who is a member of a “lost company,” describes how they come together in the night to forget their troubles and find happiness in each other’s company. Despite the fact that they have “sought many things,” they ultimately throw everything away for the one thing that truly matters: the connection they share with each other.
The imagery of the “narrow grave” and the “armies” of death that are “crowding too near” serves to underscore the sense of urgency and longing that the speaker feels. They know that their time together is limited, and so they “lock [their] warm hand above the chilling heart” in an effort to hold on to the moment for just a little bit longer. This line can be interpreted in different ways, it can mean that the speaker is trying to keep their companion warm and safe, or it can refer to the idea that life is fleeting, and the speaker wants to hold on to the moment while they can.
The use of military imagery, such as “Death marshalls up his armies round us now” and “Their footsteps crowd too near,” serves to reflect the reality of the Second World War and the sense of impending danger and loss that the speaker and their companions are experiencing. The poem is written during the Second World War and this imagery reflects the reality of the time, the war is closing in on them, and they are aware of the danger that surrounds them, it adds to the sense of urgency and fear in the poem.
The final lines of the poem, in which the speaker describes the “dark preludes of the drums” and the way that death “draws his cordons in” around the group of lovers, serve to further intensify the sense of impending loss and grief. The “dark preludes of the drums” can be interpreted as a metaphor for the approach of death, the drums symbolize the inevitability of death and the fact that it is closing in on them.
The poem ultimately leaves the reader with a sense of longing and sadness, as well as a sense of the profound importance of the connections we make with others in the face of our own mortality. It expresses the idea that in the face of death, all that truly matters is the connection we share with others and how we should cherish it while we still can.