'At Night' by Sarah Teasdale
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Love said, "Wake still and think of me,"
Sleep, "Close your eyes till break of day,"
But Dreams came by and smilingly
Gave both to Love and Sleep their way.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"At Night" by Sarah Teasdale: A Masterpiece of Romantic Poetry
If you are looking for a poem that captures the essence of romanticism, look no further than Sarah Teasdale's "At Night." This hauntingly beautiful piece of literature is a masterpiece of imagery, mood, and theme, and it continues to resonate with readers today, more than a century after it was first published.
Background and Context
Sarah Teasdale was one of the leading American poets of the early 20th century, known for her lyrical style and her focus on themes of love, beauty, and nature. "At Night" was first published in 1915, as part of her collection "Rivers to the Sea."
The poem is a sonnet, a form that Teasdale used frequently in her work. It consists of 14 lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The meter is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has 10 syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.
Interpretation
"At Night" is a poem about longing, loss, and the fleeting nature of beauty. It is set at night, a time when the world is transformed by darkness and the stars shine bright in the sky. The speaker of the poem is drawn to the beauty of the night, but she is also haunted by a sense of sadness and longing.
The first four lines set the scene: "The sky is overcast / With a continuous cloud of texture close, / Heavy and wan, all whitened by the moon, / Which through that veil is indistinctly seen." The language here is rich and evocative, painting a picture of a cloudy, moonlit night. The repetition of "continuous cloud" emphasizes the sense of heaviness and oppression, while the description of the moon as "indistinctly seen" suggests the theme of obscured beauty that runs throughout the poem.
The next four lines introduce the central image of the poem: "Distant and vague, the roof / Of the built-out city faintly dies / In the pale sky, and the tall chimneys rise / Ghostly, into the air, like tranquil sprays of foam." This image of the city at night, with its ghostly chimneys and distant skyline, creates a sense of isolation and melancholy. The use of the word "tranquil" to describe the sprays of foam is interesting, as it suggests a peaceful, almost serene quality to the image, even as it evokes a sense of emptiness and loneliness.
The next four lines shift the focus to the speaker's own emotions: "The sky is overcast / With a continuous cloud; / And the city is lost in the twilight of the heart: / Roaming in thought over the Universe, / I saw the little that is Good, steadily persevere." Here, the speaker's longing and sadness become more explicit. The repetition of the first line emphasizes the sense of gloom, while the phrase "lost in the twilight of the heart" suggests a sense of emotional darkness or despair. The final line, with its emphasis on perseverance, suggests a glimmer of hope amidst the sadness.
The final two lines bring the poem to a close: "And though the shouts of angry men / Go out into the night from time to time, / I see that the little is Great, and the Great is little, / And eternity is in love with the productions of time." This is a powerful conclusion, with its emphasis on the interplay between the small and the large, the little and the Great. The idea that "eternity is in love with the productions of time" suggests a sense of continuity and connection that transcends individual experience.
Themes and Motifs
"At Night" is a poem that contains a number of recurring themes and motifs. Here are a few that stand out:
- Beauty and Obscurity: The poem is full of images of beauty that are obscured or hidden. The moon is "indistinctly seen," the city is "distant and vague," and the chimneys are "ghostly." This theme of obscured beauty suggests a sense of longing for something that is just out of reach.
- Night and Darkness: The poem is set at night, a time when the world is transformed by darkness and the stars shine bright in the sky. This theme of darkness and night creates a sense of mystery and wonder, but also a sense of isolation and melancholy.
- Love and Loss: The poem is infused with a sense of longing and loss, as the speaker yearns for something that she cannot have. This theme of unattainable love is a common one in romantic poetry.
- Hope and Perseverance: Despite the sadness and melancholy that permeates the poem, there is also a sense of hope and perseverance. The idea that "the little is Great, and the Great is little" suggests that even small acts of goodness and perseverance can have a profound impact.
Conclusion
Sarah Teasdale's "At Night" is a remarkable piece of romantic poetry that continues to resonate with readers today. Its themes of beauty, obscurity, love, and loss are timeless, and its language and imagery are hauntingly beautiful. Whether read as a meditation on the night sky, a reflection on the human condition, or a celebration of perseverance and hope, "At Night" is a poem that deserves to be read and cherished by poetry lovers everywhere.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry At Night: A Masterpiece of Sarah Teasdale
Poetry is an art that has been around for centuries, and it is a form of expression that has the power to move people in ways that nothing else can. Sarah Teasdale, an American poet, was one of the most prominent poets of the early 20th century. Her work, Poetry At Night, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of poetry and its ability to evoke emotions in the reader.
The poem is a beautiful depiction of the night, and the way it transforms the world around us. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for the rest of the piece, "In the paling darkness / And the night-coming rain, / With a sound as of the sea / Out of the misty plain." These lines create a sense of mystery and anticipation, as if something magical is about to happen.
As the poem progresses, Teasdale describes the night in vivid detail, "The lamps are bright on Broadway, / The show must go on / So they say, / But seeing the night / And the stars overhead / Makes me feel for the dead." Here, Teasdale contrasts the bright lights of Broadway with the darkness of the night, and the beauty of the stars. She reminds us that even in the midst of life, death is always present, and the night has a way of making us feel more connected to those who have passed on.
The poem continues with Teasdale describing the beauty of the night, "The night is beautiful, / So the faces of my people. / The stars are beautiful, / So the eyes of my people. / Beautiful, also, is the sun. / Beautiful, also, are the souls of my people." Here, Teasdale celebrates the beauty of the night, and the way it brings out the beauty in people. She reminds us that even in the darkness, there is always something beautiful to be found.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most powerful, "The night is not all dark, / Nor is the day all light, / But the world is a beautiful place, / And I am glad to be alive." These lines encapsulate the essence of the poem, and the message that Teasdale is trying to convey. She reminds us that life is a balance of light and dark, and that even in the darkest of nights, there is always something beautiful to be found. She encourages us to embrace life, and to be grateful for the beauty that surrounds us.
In conclusion, Poetry At Night is a masterpiece of Sarah Teasdale, and it captures the essence of poetry and its ability to evoke emotions in the reader. The poem celebrates the beauty of the night, and the way it transforms the world around us. It reminds us that even in the midst of life, death is always present, and the night has a way of making us feel more connected to those who have passed on. Teasdale encourages us to embrace life, and to be grateful for the beauty that surrounds us. Poetry At Night is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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