The Lotos-Eaters Time Quotes

This is the first real evidence we get that something weird is going on in the land of the Lotos-eaters. We think the idea of "endless afternoon" has two possible meanings. On the one hand, it sounds kind of nice, right? Who wouldn't want it to be sunny and warm and calm all the time, like on a pleasant afternoon? On the other hand, there's something a little sinister, even scary, about the idea of being frozen in time, unable to escape a particular moment. Those light and dark feelings keep struggling with each other throughout this poem.

This is a beautiful little description of natural time. A plant doesn't grow according to some schedule. A leaf isn't worried about when it's going to come out. It follows the rhythm of nature and "takes no care." That's what the sailors want to do too. They want to be free from human time, to enjoy the gentle ebb and flow of the world. No more struggle, no more, work, just hanging out, like a leaf on a tree. It doesn't sound too bad actually, does it?

Now these poor sailors are starting to sound a little bit depressed. Basically, they want to know what the point of life and work is. If they are going to die anyway, if they can't stop the fast movement of time, then why even bother to try to do anything? Why not just lie around on a tropical beach? You know, sometimes on a tough Monday we can kind of see where they're coming from…