Death
Death is the main reason for the Speaker’s presence in the poem. It is clear that his parents are dead and when they beckon for him to come over to their side of the river, it is a metaphor for the Speaker crossing over from life to death. He seems to want to be reunited with his parents, so in this way, death is portrayed in a positive manner.
After life
The idea that a heaven does exist is obvious from the outset as the word "Eden" is in the title - Eden Rocks is another term for the Garden of Eden in Heaven. The fact that the parents are setting up a picnic there suggest that heaven is a tailor-made experience for the individual. For the Speaker, his idea of heaven is to be reunited with his family so this is what he sees.
Family
Family is the main theme underlying the poem. The Speaker fondly watches his parents as they set up a picnic across from him on the other side of the river. He notes how young and beautiful they look, as though they do not have a care in the world. Even the presence of their family pet, a dog, paints a picture of a perfect family.
