It is said to symbolize "the brief total pause of passion and thought after tempestuous pleasures when the spirit, without fear or hope of good things or evil, hungers and thirsts only after the perfect sleep". This poem celebrates the finality of death and the nothingness that lies beyond Persephone's welcoming arms, making a stark contrast to the beliefs of leading religions during this time.
This poem commemorates the finality of death and the void that lies beyond Persephone's embracing arms, starkly contrasting with the beliefs of prominent faiths during this era.