How TINTERN ABBEY evolves from beginning to end is in a truly reflective state upon the five years that had passed since he had last visited the ruins of the abbey. The ruin of the abbey, perhaps can be compared to the aging of man and the inevitably of aging, however, the abbey still stands as does natutre and its eternal splendor. The poem starts immediately with an adjective, "rolling" referring to the waters coming …showed first 75 words of 904 total…

…showed last 75 words of 904 total…motion" gives notice to the motion and vitality of nature which is eternal and contrasts and contradicts the long-lived life on man on earth. He is trying to reflect, himself on his place in the world in relation to nature, and also to allow the reader to reflect on his position and relation with the world of nature. Burial, return to the earth, part of nature again, the eternal circle of life, to be rejoiced.