Song Meaning
The poem opens with a sweeping declaration of constant flux, presenting the "world, that all contains" as a ceaseless engine of change. From the predictable orbits of stars to the inherent mutability of "Nature," every element is depicted as being "ever moving" or "loving" to change. This initial assertion establishes a grand, almost cosmic, perspective on impermanence, suggesting that even the seemingly solid foundations of existence are in perpetual motion and transformation.
This grand cosmic dance of change extends to human affairs, personified by "Fortune," which "liketh to vary." The poem argues that no position is fixed, and the "present time upon time pass'd striketh," highlighting the relentless march forward and the erasure of what came before. Even the natural elements – air, fire, water, and earth – are described in terms of their dynamic processes, from the air "cleareth" by moving to the earth "change of changes breedeth." This reinforces the idea that stasis is an illusion, and transformation is the fundamental operating principle of the universe.
The poem then narrows its focus to the human condition, stating, "Man made of earth... Still dying lives and living ever dieth." This poignant observation underscores the cyclical nature of human existence, where birth and death are inextricably linked, and life itself is a continuous process of decay and renewal. The imagery of "plants, which summer ripes, in winter fade" serves as a microcosm for this larger truth about mortality and the transient nature of all living things.
However, the final couplet introduces a striking contrast: "Only, like fate, sweet Myra never varies, / Yet in her eyes the doom of all change carries." This introduces an anomaly to the universal rule of change. Myra, unlike everything else described, is presented as unchanging, yet paradoxically, her unchanging nature contains the very essence of change – the "doom of all change." This suggests that her constancy is not a denial of change, but perhaps an embodiment of its inevitable outcome or a reflection of its ultimate power, creating a profound tension between permanence and the pervasive force of transformation.
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