Dear, near and true–no truer Time himself
Can prove you, tho' he make you evermore
Dearer and nearer, as the rapid of life
Shoots to the fall–take this and pray that he
Who wrote it, honouring your sweet faith in him,
May trust himself; and after praise and scorn,
As one who feels the immeasurable world,
Attain the wise indifference of the wise;
And after Autumn past–if left to pass
His autumn into seeming-leafless days–
Draw toward the long frost and longest night,
Wearing his wisdom lightly, like the fruit
Which in our winter woodland looks a flower.

In this excerpt, Tennyson beautifully articulates a wish for his later years, inspired by the steadfast support of his wife, Emily Sellwood. He acknowledges that time will only deepen her qualities of closeness and truthfulness. Her unwavering faith in him serves as a foundation, enabling him to retain his composure and intellectual dignity as he ages. He hopes to face life's inevitable decline with sagacity, likening his gentle embrace of wisdom to a fruit that mimics a flower in the starkness of winter. This metaphor suggests an ability to see beauty and value even amidst the barrenness of age. Tennyson aspires for a serene acceptance, approaching the "long frost and longest night"—a metaphor for death—with a light-hearted wisdom that defies the typical decline into senescence.