"From too much love of living, From hope and fear set free, We thank with brief thanksgiving Whatever gods may be That no life lives for ever; That dead men rise up never; That even the weariest river Winds somewhere safe to sea"

Algernon Charles Swinburne's poem reflects a nuanced meditation on life, death, and the nature of existence. The opening expression, "From excessive love of living," suggests an intensity and passion for life, however is instantly juxtaposed with the concept of being freed from "hope and worry." This juxtaposition can be seen as an expedition of the human condition: while we cherish life, we are likewise strained by the psychological complexities it entails.

Swinburne expresses a sort of appreciation or "brief thanksgiving" to "whatever gods might be," indicating an agnostic or doubtful view of magnificent providence. Rather of conjuring up a specific divine being, the poem acknowledges a greater power in a more abstract and questioning method, showing existential musings about life's purpose and destiny.

The line "That no life lives forever; That dead men rise up never" introduces a mournful approval of death. Instead of fearing death, the poem recommends a sense of relief in the permanence of life's end. This can be translated as a release from the continuous battles and suffering that life inevitably brings. Swinburne indicates that the finiteness of life provides a reassuring boundary, allowing people to see death not as something to dread, however as a natural conclusion.

Lastly, the images of "the weariest river" winding "somewhere safe to sea" evokes a sense of peace and inevitability. The river becomes a metaphor for life's journey, suggesting that, regardless of its trials and adversities, it eventually finds rest and resolution. This can be viewed as an enthusiastic sentiment, asserting that life, in all its weariness, will eventually reach a state of tranquility.

In general, Swinburne's verse can be seen as a philosophical reflection on the short-term nature of life and the certainties of death, proposing that the inevitability of an ending provides life with a significant resolution.