Idiom Explained: "Like Ships that Pass in the Night"

In this reading, summary, and analysis of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 'the Ocean of Life" we'll examine where these lines come from, what they mean, and what makes them so memorable.
Ships that pass in the night, and speak
each other in passing,
Only a signal shown and a distant
voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life we pass and
speak one another,
Only a look and a voice, then darkness
again and a silence.
- 1863

[@farhangul3324]

Sir! Just lost in what you have explained 😍

[@OxfordCommaEducation]

Thank you so much for watching!

[@joanyoon4672]

I also wonder if the 'passing of ships in the ocean of life' also may mean having boundaries, knowing when to connect and give each other space and reconnect again. I think this is the key to a healthy relationship when friends and families know the boundaries.

[@OxfordCommaEducation]

I think that's an excellent reading of the text.

[@conniesetter1430]

Explained so very well!
Thank you for your insight.

[@OxfordCommaEducation]

Thank you so much for the kind feedback!

[@juliehartley3652]

That's lovely, thank you.