Finis
Finis - meaning Summary
Sunset as Peaceful Ending
Cummings’ "Finis" presents a calm meditation on death and closure, using a sunset over silent waters as its central image. Twilight’s trembling gives way to darkness while a final, gracious light lifts toward peace. The speaker expresses a wish to witness such a serene, luminous ending for himself—wanting to behold his own sunset flooded over quiet waters—suggesting acceptance, spiritual calm, and gentle transcendence.
Read Complete AnalysesOVER silent waters day descending night ascending floods the gentle glory of the sunset In a golden greeting splendidly to westward as pale twilight trem– bles into Darkness comes the last light’s gracious exhortation Lifting up to peace so when life shall falter standing on the shores of the eternal god May I behold my sunset Flooding over silent waters
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