Work

Work symbolizes hardship. The Elizabethans had a complex relationship with work: they often espoused the protestant idea that hard work leads to virtue, but biblical narratives like the story of the Garden of Eden also suggested to them that it was in fact a punishment for wrongdoing and that the ideal world would contain no labor, only rest and play. Both attitudes are implied in the poem.

Limbs

Limbs represent the physical body. The word "limbs" is the only noun that occurs in the poem twice, which seems odd considering that it does not directly relate to the poem's major themes. The speaker chooses the word "limbs," however, to focus entirely on the physical body and toll of labor from which they seek refuge in bed.

Journeys

Journeys symbolize the distance between two people, even two people who love each other. The speaker refers to his...