What does the Wanderer say about his attempt to pray with his mother?

Answer 1

In the poem "The Wanderer," the narrator comments on his attempt to pray with his mother, stating, "Sadly I sat, and thought harder still—/And figured out how my spirit should travel/so, tethered by longing, it sought my homeland—/where the seat of my people were, before they died—/but to me that world is more withered than ever—/All my loved ones lie in longing sleep—/Earth-making elders, who once woke the morning/with songs of joy—they sank into darkness./So fate stands, ever in earth's confines." This passage suggests that despite his efforts to pray and seek comfort from his mother, the narrator feels disconnected and hopeless in the loss of his homeland and loved ones.