"Bleared and Black and Blind"

"Jewels in joy designed
To ravish the sensuous mind
Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind."
("The Convergence of Twain" - Thomas Hardy)

This poem has a tone of an ominous situation composed through contrasting imagery.  In the excerpt above, "jewels of joy" are described as lying lightless "bleared and black and blind."  Usually, jewels represent happiness and riches; however, in this situation, the riches actually led to the downfall of the characters.  Many people in this predicament would have never boarded the Titanic if money did not play a huge role in their life.  Another contrasting image is the opulent mirrors and the sea-worm, both mentioned in the same stanza.  Mirrors remind the reader of the passengers aboard the ship who are carefree about their journey.  However, the "grotesque, slimed" sea-worm shows the reader that although the Titanic may appear lavish on the surface, there are many things that the passengers do not know.  I think the sea-worm also represents the passengers in a way.  Both the passengers and the worm are oblivious to the outside world.  These two images come together and form a dark tone of danger.  Also, details such as the Iceberg growing in the "shadowy silent distance," the "welding" of the iceberg and ship after the collision, and the "cold currents" drifting through the sea further work to achieve this tone.  

This poem really contrasts with the movie Titanic.  No detail or description even remotely relates to a love story or even a positive outcome.  Hardy tells the story of the accident with no sympathy or care for any of the passengers.  In most historical accounts, the iceberg is portrayed as the "villan" while the Titanic is the innocent, naive bystander.  However, Hardy blames both sides.