The first time I read through this poem, I was basically lost half way through. After reading it a couple more times, I suddenly was able to take a great deal from it and realized how beautiful it really is.
The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th' inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.
As Daniel mentioned, this poem speaks to all. It contains the age old theme that death is inevitable and all will eventually experience it. This includes those who were poor and worked their entire lives just to get by, and opposite, those who had power, wealth, and beauty instead. All paths lead to an impending death. I think one of the things Gray ponders in this piece is the idea that if nothing else in this life, as far as he has observed, makes people equal to one another, then death does it. He also beautifully contemplates and describes the lives of the less fortunate, observing that "Chill Penury repressed their noble rage, And froze the genial current of the soul." Although they were people with passions, spirit, and life, they had to live within the confines of poverty until the day they were silenced for good.
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