The Poem emphasizes on the uncertainty of life and shows the sharp contrast between the way the Patriot is welcomed and treated at the present and the way he was welcomed, a year prior to this very day. One year prior, the people threw roses and white fragrant myrtle flowers, as to welcome and congratulate the Patriot for his grand victory. The people gathered around in the roofs of their houses to welcome him and it made the house seem to sway under overweight. Even the church-sires were burning bright, meaning that they put on brightly colored flags to congratulate the Patriot. In sharp contrast to this however, on the present day, there is nobody on to welcome him and the only people on the roofs of their houses were the people who were paralyzed and could not go to witness the Patriot’s public execution. Stones took the place of roses and myrtle flowers, and all of them threw stones at the Patriot when he was walking towards the scaffold. This sharp contrast upon his earlier welcoming and present day, shows the hypocrisy of the world and the Patriot thinks to himself that he is free from this world and is safer in heaven.