What Is The Mood Of The Poem Uphill Road

Kiera Campbell
Journey of Life and The Inn That Awaits Life is an everlasting, changing, miraculous journey. It is a journey that must be traveled, even if the road conditions aren’t always in your favor. Life has many ups and downs and can sometimes feel like a downward spiral, or even an uphill road that never seems to end. This is what the poem “Uphill Road,” by Christina Rossetti makes me consider. That even though the path may seem dark and endless, there is a light at the end of the it. The road may seem uphill and forever, but the easy way out is never the option. “Winds uphill all the way” which was mentioned in the poem reveals and prepares readers for a hard climb ahead. “Does the road wind up-hill all the way? Yes, to the very
Although the journey will take long, “from morn to night, my friend.” (Rossetti line 4), the poem reminds readers as well as myself that the journey is not for nothing and is not in vain. In my own life, I must appreciate the struggles that have led me to where I am and also recognize that the challenges are not yet over. Rossetti wants readers like me to understand although the journey may be tough, it’s worth it in the end. Readers know this because the poem then mentions this resting-place that awaits people who have made it through the traitorous journey of life. She mentions the inn that’s waiting at the top of the hill and describes that it has a roof and beds for all who come. Rossetti assures me that the inn can’t be missed in the dark of the night and provides ease that that is where I am supposed to end up. For me, this can symbolize heaven at the end of life. In a way, mentioning that the inn cannot be missed even in the dead of night is a suggestion of Christianity and how Christians will be saved from eternal fire by being welcomed into the gates of heaven. The inn, therefore, can also represent death. If the uphill path represents life, the inn at the end of the hill can represent death. My own applications on this is that death symbolizes a safe haven despite all the turmoil and hardships of the world. The poem also suggests that the inn is ready to accept the speaker when they arrive. For
God is the voice of speaker two letting the traveler know of the struggles but also the heaven that awaits them. God is assuring the traveler everything will be alright. I like this interpretation of the speakers the best. In the poem, God is telling me he knows I’ve struggled but he promises he’ll be there at the end. Another way I like to think of the speakers is speaker one as me, and speaker two as all the factors in life that can either enable you or slow you down. Speaker two represents the good and the bad of life; how hard it can be but also the heaven that awaits afterward. One of my life goals since starting college has been to expand and grow my faith. This poem has done a great job of assuring me that God has my back and helped to strengthen my faith. I have definitely endured many hardships to reach where I am and I am preparing myself for an even harder journey ahead. Thanks to Rossetti, I know the journey is well worth it and I have my savior God by my side through it