The poem, "As Weary Pilgrim, Now at Rest," depicts the speaker bidding another pilgrim, whom death has taken, farewell. She’s takes solace in the fact that the dead pilgrim no longer has to suffer and can rest peacefully.
In the poem, the writer wishes that one day, when she dies, she will also be free from "these woes and ailments" that age has brought upon her and she will have the privilege of being with her deceased loved one.
The writer sees death to be a calming and soothing event. Evidence for this is found in these two lines:
- "This body shall in silence sleep"
- "Oh, how I long to be at rest.".
Furthermore, the poet seems to long for death and the afterlife; this can be corroborated by these lines:
- "And soar on high among the blest"
- "Then soul and body shall unite | And of their Maker have the sight."