I Many Times Thought Peace Had Come

I Many Times Thought Peace Had Come - meaning Summary

False Arrival of Peace

The speaker reflects on recurring moments when relief seemed to arrive but proved illusory. Peace is repeatedly mistaken for genuine rescue; the poem compares these false consolations to shipwrecked sailors who think they see land and briefly ease their struggle. That relaxation is exposed as premature and futile, prompting a weary question about how many disappointments must come before real safety is reached. The tone combines resignation and sober self-awareness, tracing the cycle of hope, misperception, and renewed effort in the face of persistent uncertainty.