Here are some elements that might be mistaken for romantic, but are actually related to the themes of death and the afterlife:
* "Sunset and evening star": These images evoke a sense of beauty and tranquility, often associated with romantic settings. However, they are used in the poem to symbolize the end of life and the approach of death.
* "Twilight and evening bell": These elements create a melancholic atmosphere, which is appropriate for a poem about death. The "bell" can be seen as a call for the speaker's journey to the afterlife.
* "The long day wanes": The speaker's life is drawing to a close, and the poem focuses on the end of his earthly journey.
* "The sea is calm and still": The calm sea represents the peacefulness of death and the speaker's acceptance of the end.
While the poem does not explicitly deal with romantic love, it does contain a sense of deep emotional connection and a desire for peace and transcendence, which could be interpreted as romantic in a broader sense.
It's important to note that "Crossing the Bar" is a complex and multi-layered poem. There are many different interpretations of its meaning, and some readers might find romantic elements in the poem that others do not.