Crossing the Bar

"And may there be no moaning of the bar When I put out to sea"

While reading the questions, I ascertained that this poem is about death.  The metaphor used for death is embarking on a trip to sea.  The speaker wishes for a mild death.  He wants "no moaning of the bar" when he dies.  I took that to mean that he wants no mourning when he passes.  This is also reinforced when the speaker says "may there be no sadness of farewell."

I noticed the progression of the time in the story.  It starts off at sunset. then proceeds into twilight.  This change of time seemed apt in relation to the change the speaker will undergo.  The speaker will embark of the journey of death, the end of life.  He is near the moment of death, just as twilight is near night time.