A red glass heart containing small white bird shapes against a peach sky and reflective surface.

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The Miller's Daughter  ·  1832

Alfred Tennyson

There’s somewhat flows to us in life, But more is taken quite away. Pray, Alice, pray, my darling wife, That we may die the self-same day.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The verse reflects that life gives a little but takes away more. In response, the speaker asks a beloved wife to pray that the two of them die on the same day, a tender wish to be spared the grief of outliving the other.

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