'Rainy Night' by Dorothy Parker
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Ghosts of all my lovely sins,
Who attend too well my pillow,
Gay the wanton rain begins;
Hide the limp and tearful willow.
Turn aside your eyes and ears,
Trail away your robes of sorrow,
You shall have my further years-
You shall walk with me tomorrow.
I am sister to the rain;
Fey and sudden and unholy,
Petulant at the windowpane,
Quickly lost, remembered slowly.
I have lived with shades, a shade;
I am hung with graveyard flowers.
Let me be tonight arrayed
In the silver of the showers.
Every fragile thing shall rust;
When another April passes
I may be a furry dust,
Sifting through the brittle grasses.
All sweet sins shall be forgot;
Who will live to tell their siring?
Hear me now, nor let me rot
Wistful still, and still aspiring.
Ghosts of dear temptations, heed;
I am frail, be you forgiving.
See you not that I have need
To be living with the living?
Sail, tonight, the Styx's breast;
Glide among the dim processions
Of the exquisite unblest,
Spirits of my shared transgressions,
Roam with young Persephone.
Plucking poppies for your slumber . . .
With the morrow, there shall be
One more wraith among your number.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Rainy Night by Dorothy Parker: An Interpretation and Criticism
Oh, dear reader, have you ever read a poem that spoke to your soul, that touched your heart in a way that you couldn't quite explain? That's how I feel about Dorothy Parker's Rainy Night. This classic poem, written in Parker's signature concise style, captures the essence of a melancholic evening spent alone.
The Poem
First, let's take a look at the poem itself:
The rain is falling on the roofs and in the street,
Here in the darkness I am alone with thoughts of you,
Out of the window I look into the wet night,
The room is full of shadows like regrets.
The lamp is burning low and the fire flickers,
As I listen to the rustle of the rain,
I know that you are sleeping in the world beyond my room,
And I am here alone with the night and the rain.
At first glance, the poem seems simple and straightforward. It describes a rainy night, with the speaker feeling lonely and thinking of someone who is not with them. However, upon closer inspection, we can see that there is much more going on beneath the surface.
Loneliness and Longing
The first line of the poem sets the tone for what is to come: "The rain is falling on the roofs and in the street." The rain, a common symbol for sadness and melancholy, sets the scene for a lonely evening. The speaker is alone in the darkness, with only their thoughts for company. This is a feeling that many of us can relate to, especially during those long, cold nights where the rain seems to go on forever.
The second line, "Here in the darkness I am alone with thoughts of you," reveals that the speaker is thinking of someone who is not with them. We don't know who this person is, or why they are not there, but we can sense the speaker's longing for them. The rain, which had been a symbol of sadness, now takes on a different meaning. It becomes a symbol for the speaker's tears, which are falling just as heavily as the rain outside.
The third line, "Out of the window I look into the wet night," shows us that the speaker is looking outside, as if searching for something. Perhaps they are looking for a sign that the person they are thinking of is thinking of them too. But all they see is darkness and rain. It's a powerful image, one that conveys the sense of hopelessness that comes with unrequited love.
The fourth line, "The room is full of shadows like regrets," is where the poem really starts to pack a punch. The shadows in the room are a metaphor for regrets that the speaker is carrying with them. Perhaps they regret not telling the person they are thinking of how they feel. Maybe they regret the way things ended between them. Whatever it is, the speaker is haunted by these regrets, just as they are haunted by the shadows in the room.
The Lamp and the Fire
The next two lines, "The lamp is burning low and the fire flickers, / As I listen to the rustle of the rain," continue the theme of loneliness and melancholy. The lamp and the fire are both sources of light and warmth, but they are both fading away. The lamp is burning low, suggesting that the speaker is running out of hope. The fire is flickering, indicating that the speaker's emotions are unstable and unpredictable.
The rustle of the rain is a reminder of the speaker's isolation. They are listening to the rain, but it's not enough to drown out the sound of their own thoughts. It's a powerful image, one that captures the sense of despair that comes with being alone.
Sleeping in the World Beyond My Room
The final two lines of the poem are perhaps the most poignant: "I know that you are sleeping in the world beyond my room, / And I am here alone with the night and the rain." The speaker knows that the person they are thinking of is out there somewhere, but they are not with them. They are sleeping, unaware of the speaker's feelings. Meanwhile, the speaker is alone with their thoughts, in a world that seems to be closing in around them.
This final image is one that will stay with the reader long after they have finished the poem. It's a reminder that even when we are surrounded by people, we can still feel alone. It's a reminder that love can be painful and that sometimes, no matter how much we want something, we can't have it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rainy Night is a powerful poem that captures the essence of loneliness and longing. Through her concise and evocative language, Dorothy Parker conveys the speaker's emotions with startling clarity. The rain, the shadows, the lamp, and the fire are all used as symbols to create a sense of atmosphere and mood.
As I read this poem, I found myself nodding along in agreement, feeling the pain and the loneliness that the speaker was feeling. And that, dear reader, is the mark of a truly great poem. One that speaks to us on a deep and personal level, reminding us of our own experiences and emotions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Rainy Night: A Classic Poem by Dorothy Parker
Rainy Night is a classic poem written by the renowned American poet, Dorothy Parker. The poem is a beautiful and melancholic reflection on the loneliness and isolation that one can feel on a rainy night. In this article, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this timeless piece of literature.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the rainy night. Parker sets the scene with her use of imagery, describing the rain as "beating against the windowpanes" and the "windshield wipers thudding." This creates a sense of atmosphere and sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
As the poem progresses, Parker begins to explore the emotions that the rainy night evokes. She writes, "The night is lonely, and I am lonely too." This line captures the essence of the poem - the feeling of isolation and the desire for companionship. The use of repetition in this line emphasizes the loneliness that the speaker is feeling.
Parker then goes on to describe the city outside, writing, "The city's streets are slick with rain, / A thousand lights are glowing." This juxtaposition of the dreary weather and the bright lights of the city creates a sense of contrast and adds to the overall mood of the poem.
The next stanza of the poem is particularly poignant. Parker writes, "And I am here with empty hands, / A thief in the hour of sorrow." This line speaks to the idea of feeling empty and alone, even in the midst of a bustling city. The metaphor of the speaker being a "thief in the hour of sorrow" adds a layer of complexity to the poem, suggesting that the speaker is somehow stealing something from the world around them.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Parker writes, "Oh, someone come and take my hand, / And lift me from the pit I'm in." This line is a cry for help, a plea for someone to come and rescue the speaker from their loneliness. The use of the word "pit" is particularly striking, as it suggests a deep and dark hole that the speaker is struggling to climb out of.
Overall, Rainy Night is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the essence of loneliness and isolation. Parker's use of imagery and metaphor creates a vivid picture of the rainy night, while her repetition and use of contrast add depth and complexity to the poem. The final stanza is particularly powerful, leaving the reader with a sense of longing and a desire to reach out and help the speaker.
In conclusion, Rainy Night is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of loneliness and isolation are universal, and its vivid imagery and powerful language make it a timeless piece of literature. Dorothy Parker was a master of her craft, and this poem is a testament to her talent and skill as a poet.
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