Whenever I'm reading something and I see a reference to a poem that has a cool line in it, I find myself compelled to go read that poem. In this case, I was reading MSN's account of the filming of the last episode of Frasier and I saw the reference to Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Ulysses." Specifically, the line "That which we are, we are." I said to myself, "Self, that's either really deep, or not so much." So I had to go find out. Turns out it's not really a deep poem. It's very melancholy, though. Nice imagery, reference to Greek myths, which I like, and some good metaphors. It's about getting old, and how death eventually comes to claim all, but that it's not the nature of great men to surrender hope to the inevitable. The line quoted above is from the very end of the poem, and it's well worth recounting here.

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

I hope I feel that way when I'm older.