What does this poem mean to you?

Question

QUICKSAND years that whirl me I know not whither,
Your schemes, politics, fail, lines give way, substances mock and
elude me,
Only the theme I sing, the great and strong-possess'd soul, eludes
not,
One's-self must never give way - that is the final substance - that
out of all is sure,
Out of politics, triumphs, battles, life, what at last finally
remains?
When shows break up what but One's-Self is sure?


Note: I swear on my life that this is not homework; I just really want to know what it means... I guess you could say it has piqued my interest.

What does "I know not whither mean."? I thought I understood it, but then I realized it was WHITHER, not WITHER.

Answer 1

This is about life and how to live it. One's self must never give way - key phrase.

One's self . . . out of all is sure.

I know who I am and I know that all else is shifting and variable - like quicksand.

So, I must endeavor to KNOW MYSELF by using tools to get inside me and cut the BS and be the real person I was meant to be. Spirituality matters.

Answer 2

i think it means that you must always stay true to yourself even when evrything else fails or goes wrong.