farm becomes a symbol of innocence Later it turns into a memory The farm then becomes a symbol of lost happiness The Colours Green and Golden The colours green and golden are repeated throughout the poem Green stands for youth life and freshness Golden means beauty brightness and joy Together they show the perfect world of childhood Life at Fern Hill Farm was green and golden young and shining But time changes all colours Green fades Gold turns pale The colours show how childhood slowly disappears The Symbol of Time Time is both kind and cruel It lets the boy play and dream But it also takes away youth and joy In the end the poet says Time held me green and dying Time is shown as a living power It gives life but also brings death This makes time a strong modern symbol of change and truth The Religious Symbolism There are also religious symbols in the poem The sabbath holy streams and Adam and maiden make the farm look like the Garden of Eden Childhood becomes a holy time full of purity It feels as if God is near The farm becomes a place of creation and peace Imagery The Image of Light Light fills the poem The sun moon and stars are everywhere Light stands for joy energy and creation The poet says It was all shining The morning at the farm feels like the first morning of the world He also writes After the birth of the simple light It reminds us of God creating light in the Bible The light becomes a symbol of purity and hope The Image of the Sea The sea is a symbol of eternity and freedom The poet says I sang in my chains like the sea It means he accepts life s limits but still sings and creates The sea moves forever like life Even when time binds him his spirit keeps flowing The image shows strength acceptance and endless energy The Imagery of Nature and Animals Nature lives and breathes in every line of the poem The poet mentions foxes calves owls horses and rivers These are not just animals they are friends of the child They make the world of Fern Hill Farm alive These images make childhood magical and real In Fern Hill Dylan Thomas uses rich symbols and imagery to express the beauty and loss of childhood Fern Hill Farm light colour time sea and nature all carry deep meanings The poem shows that life is bright but brief Childhood may fade but its light and music live forever in memory