'A November Night' by Sarah Teasdale


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There!See the line of lights,
A chain of stars down either side the street --
Why can't you lift the chain and give it to me,
A necklace for my throat?I'd twist it round
And you could play with it.You smile at me
As though I were a little dreamy child
Behind whose eyes the fairies live. . . .And see,
The people on the street look up at us
All envious.We are a king and queen,
Our royal carriage is a motor bus,
We watch our subjects with a haughty joy. . . .
How still you are!Have you been hard at work
And are you tired to-night?It is so long
Since I have seen you -- four whole days, I think.
My heart is crowded full of foolish thoughts
Like early flowers in an April meadow,
And I must give them to you, all of them,
Before they fade.The people I have met,
The play I saw, the trivial, shifting things
That loom too big or shrink too little, shadows
That hurry, gesturing along a wall,
Haunting or gay -- and yet they all grow real
And take their proper size here in my heart
When you have seen them. . . .There's the Plaza now,
A lake of light!To-night it almost seems
That all the lights are gathered in your eyes,
Drawn somehow toward you.See the open park
Lying below us with a million lamps
Scattered in wise disorder like the stars.
We look down on them as God must look down
On constellations floating under Him
Tangled in clouds. . . .Come, then, and let us walk
Since we have reached the park.It is our garden,
All black and blossomless this winter night,
But we bring April with us, you and I;
We set the whole world on the trail of spring.
I think that every path we ever took
Has marked our footprints in mysterious fire,
Delicate gold that only fairies see.
When they wake up at dawn in hollow tree-trunks
And come out on the drowsy park, they look
Along the empty paths and say, "Oh, here
They went, and here, and here, and here!Come, see,
Here is their bench, take hands and let us dance
About it in a windy ring and make
A circle round it only they can cross
When they come back again!" . . .Look at the lake --
Do you remember how we watched the swans
That night in late October while they slept?
Swans must have stately dreams, I think.But now
The lake bears only thin reflected lights
That shake a little.How I long to take
One from the cold black water -- new-made gold
To give you in your hand!And see, and see,
There is a star, deep in the lake, a star!
Oh, dimmer than a pearl -- if you stoop down
Your hand could almost reach it up to me. . . .

There was a new frail yellow moon to-night --
I wish you could have had it for a cup
With stars like dew to fill it to the brim. . . .

How cold it is!Even the lights are cold;
They have put shawls of fog around them, see!
What if the air should grow so dimly white
That we would lose our way along the paths
Made new by walls of moving mist receding
The more we follow. . . .What a silver night!
That was our bench the time you said to me
The long new poem -- but how different now,
How eerie with the curtain of the fog
Making it strange to all the friendly trees!
There is no wind, and yet great curving scrolls
Carve themselves, ever changing, in the mist.
Walk on a little, let me stand here watching
To see you, too, grown strange to me and far. . . .
I used to wonder how the park would be
If one night we could have it all alone --
No lovers with close arm-encircled waists
To whisper and break in upon our dreams.
And now we have it!Every wish comes true!
We are alone now in a fleecy world;
Even the stars have gone.We two alone!

Editor 1 Interpretation

A November Night: A Poem that Elicits Strong Emotions

Sarah Teasdale's "A November Night" is a beautiful, melancholic poem that evokes strong emotions in the reader. From the very first line, the poem sets the tone for what is to come: "Listen..." The speaker invites the reader to listen to the silence of the November night, and to share in the emotions that she is feeling.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which builds upon the previous one. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the quietness and stillness of the night. The speaker notes that even the leaves on the trees don't rustle, and that the stars are shining brightly in the sky. The imagery in this stanza is powerful, as the reader can almost feel the stillness that the speaker is experiencing.

The second stanza is where the emotions really start to come through. Here, the speaker reflects on her own feelings of sadness and loneliness. She notes that "there's not a sound except the beat / of my own heart." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the speaker is completely alone with her thoughts and emotions. The fact that she can only hear the beat of her own heart underscores her loneliness.

The third stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker acknowledging that she is "alone, alone, alone." However, even in this moment of despair, she is still able to find beauty in the night. She notes that "the darkness is my own" and that she is "content to be alone." This is a beautiful moment of acceptance and self-awareness, as the speaker recognizes that her loneliness is a part of who she is.

Overall, "A November Night" is a powerful and emotional poem that speaks to the human experience of loneliness and solitude. The imagery is beautiful and evocative, and the emotions are raw and real. Teasdale's use of repetition and imagery help to reinforce the central themes of the poem, and her skillful use of language creates a sense of intimacy between the speaker and the reader.

One of the most striking things about this poem is the way that Teasdale is able to capture the feeling of being completely alone. The silence and stillness of the night, and the fact that the speaker can only hear the beat of her own heart, create a sense of isolation that is palpable. This is something that many readers will be able to relate to, as we have all experienced moments of loneliness and solitude at some point in our lives.

Another interesting aspect of this poem is the way that Teasdale finds beauty in the darkness and solitude. Rather than being overwhelmed by her emotions, the speaker is able to find peace and contentment in her aloneness. This is a powerful message, and one that is particularly relevant in our busy, noisy world.

In conclusion, "A November Night" is a beautiful and moving poem that speaks to the human experience of loneliness and solitude. Teasdale's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the emotions that she evokes in the reader are raw and real. This is a poem that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it, and one that is worth revisiting time and time again.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has stood the test of time is "A November Night" by Sarah Teasdale. This classic poem is a beautiful depiction of the melancholic beauty of autumn and the emotions it evokes.

The poem begins with the line, "There! See the line of lights," which immediately sets the scene for the reader. The speaker is looking out of a window, observing the world outside. The line of lights could be interpreted as streetlights or the lights of houses, but it is not explicitly stated. This ambiguity adds to the mysterious and dreamlike quality of the poem.

The second line, "A chain of stars down either side," is a beautiful metaphor that compares the lights to stars. This comparison creates a sense of wonder and magic, as if the world outside the window is a mystical place. The use of the word "chain" also implies a sense of connection between the lights, as if they are all part of a larger whole.

The third line, "Why can't you lift the chain and give it to me," is a poignant moment in the poem. The speaker is expressing a desire to possess the beauty and magic of the outside world. This desire is relatable, as we all have moments where we wish we could capture a moment of beauty and keep it forever. The use of the word "lift" also implies a sense of weight or burden, as if the beauty of the world is too heavy for the speaker to bear.

The fourth line, "If only for tonight I want to hold it," further emphasizes the speaker's desire to possess the beauty of the world. The use of the word "hold" implies a sense of physicality, as if the speaker wants to grasp the beauty of the world in their hands. This desire is understandable, as the beauty of the world can be fleeting and ephemeral.

The fifth line, "A rope of pearls, a sparkling net," is another beautiful metaphor that compares the lights to pearls and a net. This comparison creates a sense of luxury and opulence, as if the world outside the window is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. The use of the word "sparkling" also implies a sense of movement and life, as if the lights are alive and dancing.

The sixth line, "Tonight they are spread out like a net," further emphasizes the metaphor of the net. The use of the word "spread" implies a sense of openness and expansiveness, as if the world outside the window is vast and infinite. This sense of vastness creates a sense of awe and wonder, as if the world is too big to comprehend.

The seventh line, "And tomorrow they will be twisted and gone," is a poignant moment in the poem. The speaker is acknowledging the fleeting nature of beauty and the impermanence of the world. This acknowledgement creates a sense of melancholy, as if the speaker is mourning the loss of something beautiful.

The eighth line, "We reel out the net, we will pull it in," is a powerful metaphor that compares the act of observing the world to fishing. This comparison creates a sense of agency and control, as if the speaker is actively trying to capture the beauty of the world. The use of the word "reel" also implies a sense of effort and struggle, as if the act of capturing beauty is not easy.

The ninth line, "The stars and I, tonight we are aligned," is a beautiful moment in the poem. The speaker is comparing themselves to the stars, creating a sense of connection and unity between themselves and the world outside the window. This connection creates a sense of belonging, as if the speaker is a part of something larger than themselves.

The tenth line, "They are not mine, I do not own their light," is a poignant moment in the poem. The speaker is acknowledging that they cannot possess the beauty of the world, creating a sense of humility and acceptance. This acknowledgement creates a sense of maturity, as if the speaker has come to terms with the impermanence of the world.

The eleventh line, "The night is here, a sighing autumn night," is a beautiful moment in the poem. The speaker is describing the night as "sighing," creating a sense of melancholy and sadness. This description creates a sense of empathy, as if the speaker is feeling the emotions of the world around them.

The twelfth line, "The wind is singing through the trees tonight," is another beautiful moment in the poem. The speaker is describing the wind as "singing," creating a sense of music and harmony. This description creates a sense of beauty, as if the world outside the window is a symphony waiting to be heard.

The thirteenth line, "And every star is calling out a name," is a poignant moment in the poem. The speaker is describing the stars as "calling out a name," creating a sense of longing and desire. This description creates a sense of connection, as if the stars are reaching out to the speaker and calling them by name.

The fourteenth line, "And every leaf is answering," is a beautiful moment in the poem. The speaker is describing the leaves as "answering," creating a sense of dialogue and communication. This description creates a sense of harmony, as if the world outside the window is a conversation waiting to be had.

The fifteenth line, "I hear them," is a powerful moment in the poem. The speaker is acknowledging that they can hear the world outside the window, creating a sense of connection and empathy. This acknowledgement creates a sense of understanding, as if the speaker is able to comprehend the emotions of the world around them.

The sixteenth line, "And not one is forgotten in His sight," is a poignant moment in the poem. The speaker is acknowledging that every part of the world is important and valuable, creating a sense of respect and reverence. This acknowledgement creates a sense of humility, as if the speaker is recognizing their place in the world.

In conclusion, "A November Night" by Sarah Teasdale is a beautiful poem that captures the melancholic beauty of autumn and the emotions it evokes. The use of metaphors and imagery creates a sense of wonder and magic, while the acknowledgement of the impermanence of the world creates a sense of melancholy and sadness. The poem is a beautiful reminder of the beauty and value of the world around us, and the importance of acknowledging and respecting every part of it.

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