Day: October 28, 2025

Introduction: “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

“A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot first appeared in 1928 as part of his collection Ariel Poems, published by Faber and Gwyer. The poem reflects Eliot’s Christian faith and spiritual transformation following his conversion to Anglicanism, portraying the biblical figure Simeon—who awaited the coming of Christ—as a symbol of spiritual fulfillment and resignation. Through the imagery of “the winter sun creeps by the snow hills” and “dust in sunlight and memory in corners,” Eliot evokes the barrenness of earthly existence and the yearning for divine peace. The refrain “Grant us thy peace” emphasizes Simeon’s—and by extension, humanity’s—plea for salvation amid suffering and temporal decay. The poem’s enduring popularity lies in its meditative tone, religious symbolism, and universal reflection on mortality and redemption, encapsulated in the poignant final lines: “I am tired with my own life and the lives of those after me, / I am dying in my own death and the deaths of those after me.” These lines express a profound weariness that transforms into acceptance of divine will, marking the poem as one of Eliot’s most intimate explorations of faith and the human condition.

Text: “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

Lord, they Roman hyacinths are blooming in bowls and
The winder sun creeps by the snow hills;
The stubborn season has made stand.
My life is light, waiting for the death wind,
Like a feather on the back of my hand.
Dust in sunlight and memory in corners
Wait for the wind that chills towards the dead land.

Grant us they peace.
I have walked many years in this city,
Kept faith and fast, provided for the poor,
have given and taken honour and ease.
There went never any rejected from my door.
Who shall remember my house, where shall live my children’s
children?
When the time of sorrow is come?
They will take to the goat’s path, and the fox’s home,
Fleeing from foreign faces and the foreign swords.

Before the time of cords and scourges and lamentation
Grant us thy peace.
Before the stations of the mountain of desolation,
Before the certain hour of maternal sorrow,
Now at this birth season of decease,
Let the Infant, the still unspeaking and unspoken Word,
Grant Israel’s consolation
To one who has eighty years and no to-morrow.

According to thy word.
They shall praise Thee and suffer in every generation
With glory and derision,
Light upon light, mounting the saints’ stair.
Not for me the martyrdom, the ecstasy of thought and prayer,
Not for me the ultimate vision.
Grant me thy peace.
(And a sword shall pierce thy heart,
Thine also).
I am tired with my own life and the lives of those after me,
I am dying in my own death and the deaths of those after me.
Let they servant depart,
Having seen thy salvation.

Annotations: “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

Stanza / Lines	Annotation (Detailed & Simple Explanation)	Literary Devices
1. “Lord, thy Roman hyacinths are blooming in bowls…” to “Wait for the wind that chills towards the dead land.”	The poem opens with winter imagery and fading life. Simeon, the old man, sees beauty (hyacinths) but feels weary and close to death. The “winter sun” and “dust in sunlight” symbolize the end of a cycle — life nearing death. “Dead land” echoes desolation and spiritual barrenness, much like The Waste Land. Simeon’s life is compared to a light feather waiting to be blown away — fragile and transient.	Imagery: vivid winter and death scenes. Symbolism: “hyacinths” (renewal), “dust” (mortality). Simile: “Like a feather…” Alliteration: “sunlight and memory in corners.” Metaphor: “life is light” = life as fragile illumination.
2. “Grant us thy peace. / I have walked many years in this city…” to “Fleeing from foreign faces and the foreign swords.”	Simeon prays for divine peace before chaos arrives. He recalls a lifetime of faith and service (“kept faith and fast, provided for the poor”), but foresees destruction and exile for his descendants. The lines suggest the fall of Jerusalem and later persecution. His tone shifts from personal reflection to prophetic warning.	Anaphora: “Grant us thy peace” repeated as prayer. Biblical allusion: to Jerusalem’s coming ruin. Foreshadowing: “foreign swords.” Contrast: past faith vs. future suffering. Imagery: “goat’s path” and “fox’s home” = wilderness, exile.
3. “Before the time of cords and scourges…” to “To one who has eighty years and no to-morrow.”	Simeon anticipates the suffering of Christ and Mary — the “cords and scourges” and “maternal sorrow.” He prays for peace before the Passion. “Birth season of decease” fuses Nativity with death, showing the paradox of salvation: life through death. Simeon, aged (“eighty years”), is ready to die peacefully, having witnessed divine salvation in the infant Jesus.	Paradox: “birth season of decease.” Allusion: Christ’s future crucifixion (“cords and scourges”). Symbolism: “Infant” = Incarnation; “Word” = Christ as divine Logos. Tone: devotional and prophetic. Irony: birth associated with death.
4. “According to thy word. / They shall praise Thee…” to “Grant me thy peace.”	Simeon recognizes that future generations will both glorify and mock Christ (“glory and derision”). He feels excluded from that redemptive struggle — no martyrdom or spiritual ecstasy awaits him. He asks only for peace in his final moments.	Biblical echo: “According to thy word” (Luke 2:29). Juxtaposition: “glory and derision.” Repetition: “Grant me thy peace.” Tone: humble resignation. Metaphor: “mounting the saints’ stair” = spiritual ascent of believers.
5. “(And a sword shall pierce thy heart, / Thine also). / I am tired with my own life…” to end.	The “sword” prophecy (from Simeon’s words to Mary in Luke 2:35) signals coming sorrow. Simeon expresses weariness and solidarity with humanity’s suffering — “dying in my own death and the deaths of those after me.” He accepts mortality with serenity: “Let thy servant depart.” His final peace lies in faith that he has seen “thy salvation.”	Biblical allusion: to Luke 2:29–35 (Simeon’s prophecy). Repetition: “Grant me thy peace.” Parallelism: “my own life… those after me.” Symbolism: “sword” = grief and suffering. Tone: elegiac and redemptive. Religious imagery: salvation, death, and fulfillment.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

Device	Definition	Example from Poem	Explanation
2. Allusion	A reference to a well-known text, event, or figure.	“Let thy servant depart, having seen thy salvation”	Refers to Simeon’s prayer in Luke 2:29–32, highlighting the theme of divine fulfillment.
3. Anaphora	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.	“Before the time of cords and scourges and lamentation / Before the stations of the mountain of desolation”	Repetition of before stresses urgency and foreshadows Christ’s Passion.
4. Apostrophe	Addressing an absent or divine being.	“Grant us thy peace”	The speaker directly addresses God, creating an intimate, prayer-like tone.
5. Assonance	Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.	“My life is light, waiting for the death wind”	The long i sound links life and light, expressing transience and fragility.
6. Biblical Imagery	Imagery drawn from the Bible or Christian tradition.	“The still unspeaking and unspoken Word”	Refers to Christ as the Logos (Word of God), blending poetic and theological imagery.
7. Caesura	A pause within a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation.	“My life is light, waiting for the death wind,”	The pause after light creates reflection and suspense, mirroring Simeon’s waiting.
8. Enjambment	Continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.	“Who shall remember my house, where shall live my children’s children?”	Reflects Simeon’s wandering thoughts and sense of uncertainty about the future.
9. Imagery	Use of vivid and descriptive language appealing to the senses.	“The winter sun creeps by the snow hills”	Evokes the cold stillness of winter, symbolizing old age and death.
10. Irony	A contrast between appearance and reality or expectation and result.	“Now at this birth season of decease”	The paradox of birth and death together shows the irony of divine sacrifice bringing salvation.
11. Metaphor	A direct comparison between two unlike things.	“My life is light, waiting for the death wind”	Life is compared to something insubstantial, like light, suggesting fragility.
12. Paradox	A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth.	“Birth season of decease”	Contradicts itself to express that Christ’s birth also marks the beginning of His path to death.
13. Personification	Giving human qualities to non-human things.	“The stubborn season has made stand”	Winter is personified as stubborn, reflecting resistance to change and renewal.
14. Refrain	A repeated line or phrase within a poem.	“Grant us thy peace”	This recurring plea emphasizes the speaker’s longing for spiritual tranquility.
15. Religious Symbolism	Use of symbols representing faith and divine concepts.	“The still unspeaking and unspoken Word”	Symbolizes the divine Logos, representing Christ’s incarnation.
16. Repetition	Reusing the same word or phrase for emphasis.	“Grant us thy peace”	Repetition strengthens the meditative and supplicatory tone of the poem.
17. Simile	A comparison using “like” or “as.”	“Like a feather on the back of my hand”	Compares life’s fragility to a feather, emphasizing human mortality.
18. Symbolism	The use of an object or image to represent an abstract idea.	“Dust in sunlight and memory in corners”	Symbolizes remnants of the past and the transient nature of life.
19. Tone	The poet’s attitude toward the subject.	Overall tone: meditative, resigned, prayerful.	Reflects Simeon’s acceptance of death and peace after witnessing salvation.
20. Visual Imagery	Descriptive language appealing to sight.	“Roman hyacinths are blooming in bowls”	Creates a vivid picture of beauty amidst decay, symbolizing fleeting life.

Themes: “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

1. Faith and Spiritual Fulfillment: “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot explores the theme of faith culminating in divine fulfillment. Simeon’s life of devotion finds closure when he beholds the infant Christ, fulfilling God’s promise: “According to thy word… Let thy servant depart, having seen thy salvation.” His lifelong faith transforms into acceptance of mortality, reflecting the Christian belief that true peace is found only in spiritual completion. The repeated invocation “Grant us thy peace” reinforces Simeon’s yearning for divine rest, portraying faith not as triumph but as serene surrender. Eliot portrays this moment of revelation with quiet humility rather than ecstatic joy, emphasizing the transition from worldly existence to spiritual release. The poem thus reflects Eliot’s own post-conversion meditation on faith—where human doubt and divine assurance converge in a moment of grace, and where Simeon’s physical frailty symbolizes the enduring strength of belief realized at life’s end.

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2. Mortality and Human Frailty: In “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot, mortality emerges as a central theme, intertwining physical decay with spiritual renewal. The speaker’s tone of resignation—“My life is light, waiting for the death wind, / Like a feather on the back of my hand”—reveals awareness of life’s fragility and the inevitability of death. Eliot uses imagery of winter and dust—“Dust in sunlight and memory in corners”—to evoke both the weariness of old age and the transient nature of human existence. Yet, death in the poem is not terrifying; it is a divine promise fulfilled. Simeon’s acceptance, “Let thy servant depart,” transforms mortality into redemption. The tension between decay and deliverance mirrors Eliot’s broader religious vision, where spiritual enlightenment emerges through human limitation. Thus, the poem becomes a meditation on aging, weariness, and the peace that comes with accepting one’s end as part of divine providence.

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3. Time, History, and Prophecy: T. S. Eliot’s “A Song for Simeon” reflects the interplay of time, history, and prophecy through Simeon’s perspective as one who bridges the Old and New Testaments. He represents the old dispensation awaiting the new covenant: “Grant Israel’s consolation to one who has eighty years and no to-morrow.” The poem situates Simeon at a turning point in sacred history—the moment when prophecy meets fulfillment. The temporal and the eternal converge in his vision of the Christ child, symbolized as “the still unspeaking and unspoken Word.” Eliot’s imagery of seasonal change—“The winter sun creeps by the snow hills”—marks both the decline of the old world and the dawn of spiritual renewal. Simeon’s prophetic foresight, “They shall praise Thee and suffer in every generation,” captures Eliot’s cyclical view of time, where suffering and salvation repeat through ages. Thus, Simeon becomes both historical witness and spiritual prophet of human continuity.

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4. Redemption and Divine Peace: In “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot, redemption and divine peace are the ultimate aspirations of the weary soul. The poem’s recurring refrain—“Grant us thy peace”—encapsulates humanity’s longing for spiritual reconciliation amid worldly suffering. Simeon’s peace is not mere rest but redemption through divine vision. By witnessing the infant Christ—“the still unspeaking and unspoken Word”—he attains salvation and release from the burdens of time and sin. Eliot’s use of paradox, “Now at this birth season of decease,” emphasizes that redemption arises from suffering and death. The peace Simeon seeks is both personal and universal—echoing through “every generation” that will “praise Thee and suffer.” The poem closes with profound serenity: “Let thy servant depart, having seen thy salvation.” Here, Eliot transforms the biblical narrative into a meditation on divine mercy, depicting redemption as the soul’s final reconciliation with eternal truth and divine love.

Literary Theories and “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

Literary Theory	Application to “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot	Supporting References from the Poem
1. New Criticism	This theory emphasizes close reading, focusing on the poem’s internal structure, imagery, and paradox rather than external context. Eliot’s poem exemplifies unity of form and meaning through tension between life and death, faith and doubt. The repeated refrain “Grant us thy peace” creates coherence and emotional depth, while paradoxes like “Now at this birth season of decease” reflect the poem’s intricate balance of spiritual birth and mortal decay. Every image—“dust in sunlight”, “winter sun”, “death wind”—contributes to a tightly woven pattern of mortality and divine fulfillment.	“My life is light, waiting for the death wind” / “Now at this birth season of decease” / “Grant us thy peace.”
2. Religious / Christian Criticism	From a Christian critical lens, the poem reflects Eliot’s post-conversion faith and biblical symbolism. Simeon’s words echo the Gospel of Luke (2:29–32), representing humanity’s longing for divine salvation. The Infant as “the still unspeaking and unspoken Word” symbolizes the incarnation of Christ, while Simeon’s acceptance of death reflects Christian humility before divine will. The poem’s meditative tone transforms biblical narrative into a personal prayer for peace, mirroring Christian eschatological hope.	“Let the Infant, the still unspeaking and unspoken Word, / Grant Israel’s consolation” / “Let thy servant depart, having seen thy salvation.”
3. Modernist Theory	Viewed through modernist theory, Eliot portrays alienation, spiritual disillusionment, and the search for meaning in an era of decay. Simeon’s weariness—“I am tired with my own life and the lives of those after me”—reflects modern man’s fatigue with history and loss of faith. The fragmented structure and shifting tone mirror modernist experimentation, while the juxtaposition of sacred faith and existential despair exemplifies Eliot’s synthesis of traditional spirituality with modern uncertainty.	“Dust in sunlight and memory in corners” / “Who shall remember my house… when the time of sorrow is come?”
4. Symbolist Theory	Influenced by French Symbolism, Eliot uses suggestive imagery and symbols to evoke spiritual meaning beyond literal sense. The Roman hyacinths symbolize fleeting beauty amid mortality; dust, winter sun, and death wind evoke transience and the soul’s preparation for eternity. The poem’s symbolic texture transforms concrete images into metaphysical reflections, aligning with the Symbolist pursuit of expressing inner emotion through external forms.	“Roman hyacinths are blooming in bowls” / “Dust in sunlight and memory in corners” / “The winter sun creeps by the snow hills.”

Critical Questions about “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

Literary Works Similar to “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

• “Journey of the Magi” by T. S. Eliot – Shares Eliot’s Ariel Poems theme of spiritual transformation through biblical imagery, portraying the Magi’s weariness and revelation much like Simeon’s vision of salvation.
• “The Second Coming” by W. B. Yeats – Similar in its apocalyptic tone and prophetic vision, depicting a world awaiting divine revelation and the birth of a new spiritual order.
• “In Memoriam A.H.H.” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson – Resonates through its meditations on faith, mortality, and the reconciliation of grief with divine purpose, much like Simeon’s acceptance of death.
• “The Collar” by George Herbert – Reflects an inner struggle between rebellion and submission to God, paralleling Simeon’s tension between worldly fatigue and spiritual peace.
• “Ash-Wednesday” by T. S. Eliot – Continues Eliot’s exploration of conversion, penitence, and the longing for divine grace, echoing Simeon’s plea for peace and redemption.

Representative Quotations of “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

Quotation	Context in the Poem	Theoretical Perspective (in Bold)	Explanation
“My life is light, waiting for the death wind, / Like a feather on the back of my hand.”	Spoken by the aged Simeon as he reflects on his fragility and mortality.	Modernist / Symbolist	The simile conveys the brevity and weightlessness of human life, typical of modernist reflection on transience and loss of permanence.
“Dust in sunlight and memory in corners / Wait for the wind that chills towards the dead land.”	Eliot juxtaposes decay with faint traces of life and memory.	New Criticism	The imagery forms a unified symbol of mortality, showing Eliot’s precise control of mood and structure to express decay within beauty.
“Grant us thy peace.”	A recurring plea throughout the poem, functioning as a refrain.	Religious / Christian Criticism	The line mirrors a liturgical prayer, expressing the universal human longing for divine peace and salvation.
“Let the Infant, the still unspeaking and unspoken Word, / Grant Israel’s consolation.”	Simeon recognizes the infant Christ as fulfillment of divine prophecy.	Biblical / Theological	Reflects the Incarnation—the Word (Logos) becoming flesh—aligning Eliot’s poetry with Christian metaphysics and scriptural symbolism.
“Now at this birth season of decease.”	Simeon meditates on Christ’s birth as also a sign of His eventual death.	New Criticism / Paradox Theory	The paradox of birth and death encapsulates Eliot’s central theme of renewal through sacrifice, a hallmark of poetic irony and tension.
“They shall praise Thee and suffer in every generation.”	A prophetic statement foretelling future Christian suffering and devotion.	Historical / Prophetic Lens	The line situates Simeon as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, expressing Eliot’s cyclical view of history and faith.
“Not for me the martyrdom, the ecstasy of thought and prayer, / Not for me the ultimate vision.”	Simeon accepts his humble role and lack of divine grandeur.	Existential / Humanist Criticism	The humility and self-awareness reflect modern existential resignation—seeking meaning without grandeur or heroism.
“I am tired with my own life and the lives of those after me.”	A statement of weariness extending beyond personal mortality.	Modernist / Psychological Criticism	Reflects post-war fatigue and spiritual exhaustion, echoing modernist despair about generational suffering and disillusionment.
“(And a sword shall pierce thy heart, Thine also).”	A direct allusion to Mary’s foretold suffering.	Intertextual / Feminist Theological	Introduces maternal pain as central to salvation, recognizing feminine suffering in the Christian redemptive narrative.
“Let thy servant depart, having seen thy salvation.”	The poem’s closing line where Simeon attains peace through divine vision.	Religious / Eschatological	Symbolizes the completion of faith and the acceptance of death as entry into eternal life—culminating Eliot’s spiritual vision.

Suggested Readings: “A Song for Simeon” by T. S. Eliot

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