The poem is a meditation on the cyclical nature of life and the inevitability of death. Parker uses the image of the moon to symbolize the recurring cycle of life and death, with each phase of the moon representing a different stage in the cycle. The speaker in the poem is resigned to this cycle, recognizing that despite all of their efforts, life will eventually come to an end. The poem is known for its bleak and melancholic tone, as well as Parker's characteristic wit and irony.