Here's a breakdown of the poem:
Themes:
* Childhood and Innocence: The poem is a nostalgic celebration of a youthful, carefree time spent in the Welsh countryside. It evokes a sense of wonder and joy in the natural world.
* Passage of Time: While celebrating youth, the poem also acknowledges the inevitability of time's passage. The poem's cyclical structure, with its references to "the green fuse" and "the sun" rising and setting, emphasizes the recurring nature of life and the unstoppable march of time.
* Nature and the Supernatural: The poem blends elements of nature with almost mythical imagery, blurring the line between the real and the imagined.
* Loss and Mortality: The poem's celebratory tone gives way to a sense of loss and the inevitability of death. The final line, "And the sun shone as he had shone before," acknowledges the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of mortality.
Structure and Language:
* Structure: The poem is written in a complex, irregular form, with no set rhyme scheme or meter. It uses a mixture of short and long lines, creating a sense of fluidity and naturalness.
* Language: The language of the poem is highly evocative, using rich imagery and sensory detail to create a vivid picture of the childhood landscape.
Key Ideas and Imagery:
* "Green fuse": This image is a metaphor for the life force, constantly renewing and growing.
* "The sun": Represents the passage of time, both day and night, and the cycle of life and death.
* "The moon": Associated with the night, dreamlike imagery, and the mysteries of the universe.
* "The wind": A symbol of change, and the forces of nature that are beyond human control.
Overall Impression:
"Fern Hill" is a poem about the bittersweet nature of time, the beauty of youth, and the inevitability of death. It is a powerful and moving work that explores the deepest human experiences, using vivid imagery and evocative language to create a lasting impression.