The comparisons drawn between figurative and literal concepts give the poem many double meanings that lend to the theme of an unfortunate progression of time. Added to these layers is the musical quality that Thomas creates through the use of rhythm, meter and other musical devices. This adds to the mood of the poem, which helps show what the narrator is missing from his childhood. As the story is told, the mood gradually becomes darker as the narrator mourns the simplicity of the life he has lost over time. By the end of the poem, Dylan Thomas's point is clear: life's changes over time are not always pleasant, but they will happen.