I Went to Thank Her

I Went to Thank Her - meaning Summary

Visiting the Dead

The speaker describes a journey to thank a woman who has died. Arriving at her burial, they find her asleep in a stone bed with flowers placed by passing travelers. The poem contrasts the ease of crossing the sea to see her with the slow, reluctant return, suggesting lingering attachment and the difficulty of resuming life after a final visit. It reflects on gratitude, mourning, and the uneven motion between presence and absence.