The poem uses the toads as a metaphor for the speaker's own mortality and the inevitability of aging. The imagery of the "cool green" toads and their "unblinking eyes" suggests a sense of detachment and indifference to the passage of time, which contrasts with the speaker's own feelings of loss and regret. The poem ends on a note of resigned acceptance, as the speaker acknowledges that he is now "just a shape" in the landscape, no longer the vibrant youth he once was.
Key Themes:
* Passage of time and loss of youth: The poem explores the inevitability of aging and how time seems to pass quickly, leaving behind a sense of loss and disillusionment.
* Mortality and existentialism: The toads, as symbols of impermanence, highlight the speaker's own mortality and the fleeting nature of life.
* Disillusionment and regret: The speaker reflects on the dreams and aspirations of his youth and acknowledges that they have not been realized.
* Nature and human existence: The poem explores the relationship between humans and the natural world, using the toads as a symbol of the cyclical nature of life and death.
Overall, "Toads Revisited" is a poignant and darkly humorous poem that captures the bittersweet experience of growing old and the inevitable passage of time.