In this poem the moon is described in depth as both an object and a place of rest/relief from earth. "The sufferers of the earth may go", the speaker, Charlotte Smith, uses the moon as a symbol of Heaven. The descriptive language in the poem is mostly dark and saddening, which "brightens" the effect of the moon (Heaven) in the night sky. He calls earth a "toiling scene", speaking of all the evils and sin on earth. The moon would be a great Heaven, even when the world is dark, it remains shining bright.
Throughout the whole poem the mood is somewhat dim, but towards the end there is an escalation to a happier ending. He starts to propose the idea that the moon is where he will have his final rest and then ends with a bang and shouts "Oh! that I soon may reach thy world serene,/ Poor wearied pilgrim - in this toiling scene!" It is an attractive destination because of its peacefulness and its never-ending light in darkness. It is a place where, unlike earth, there would be no evil and no conflict.
Everybody imagines their own Heaven, for Smith it is the moon. Ever since I was very young I have been going to a tiny cottage in a small town in southern Wisconsin. This is where I find my piece of Heaven, and I imagine that my true Heaven will look something like the image above. I find my peace in the simplicity of life there.
Many people imagine Heaven in different ways, here's one of my favorite songs that further describes that "small town".
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