We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
After some research, I found this... "The strains of discontent and weakness in old age remain throughout the poem, but Tennyson finally leaves Ulysses "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield", recalling the Dantesque damnable desire for knowledge beyond all bounds. The words of Dante's character as he exhorts his men to the journey find parallel in those of Tennyson's Ulysses, who calls his men to join him on one last voyage."
Now, I'm not a massive fan of poetry, but this poem does have an awful sense of finality about it. Especially the part about 'one last voyage', and there's probably a much deeper meaning to the poem, which could very well relate to M's story. I wonder though, could this be referring to...