'A November Night' by Sara 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 by Sara Teasdale: A Haunting Ode to Love and Loss
As I read Sara Teasdale's "A November Night," I couldn't help but be swept away by the evocative imagery and melancholy tone of this classic poem. From the opening lines, Teasdale transports us to a moonlit landscape of "black trees bending / And icy ponds that echo back / The mocking owls―and somewhere, waiting, / A tragic note that almost breaks." With each stanza, she weaves a haunting tapestry of nature and emotion that speaks to the deepest parts of our human experience.
But what is it about this poem that resonates so deeply with readers, even over a century after it was first published? In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes of love and loss, nature and mortality, and the power of language to capture the ephemeral moments of our lives.
Love and Loss in "A November Night"
One of the most striking aspects of "A November Night" is its exploration of love and loss. Throughout the poem, Teasdale uses vivid imagery to convey the bittersweet emotions that accompany these universal experiences. In the first stanza, we see the speaker standing alone in the moonlight, lamenting a love that is now lost:
I Stand in the dark and watch the lights Flash in the valley. I see the hills Darken against the stars. A vague Hush lingers in the air ―a blur Of blossom that smells of autumn. I Am alone in the quiet street.
Here, the speaker's sense of isolation is palpable. She is surrounded by the beauty of nature, yet it only serves to remind her of what she has lost. The "vague hush" and "blur of blossom" suggest a sense of transience and impermanence, as if the speaker's love has already begun to fade into memory.
As the poem progresses, we see the speaker grappling with the pain of separation and longing. She describes the "crimson leaves" that "drift by" like "dreams" that she cannot hold onto. She hears the "mocking owls" and the "tragic note" of longing that "almost breaks" her heart. And yet, amidst this pain, there is a sense of beauty and wonder. The speaker marvels at the "great stars" that "swing around the sky," and the way the moon "gleams like ice" on the frozen landscape.
Ultimately, the poem presents a complex portrait of love and loss. There is no easy resolution or reconciliation, no clear answer to the speaker's pain. Yet, through the power of language and imagery, Teasdale captures the fleeting moments of beauty and sorrow that make up our lives.
Nature and Mortality in "A November Night"
Another powerful theme in "A November Night" is the connection between nature and mortality. Throughout the poem, Teasdale evokes a sense of transience and impermanence, as if the natural world is a mirror for the human experience of life and death.
In the second stanza, for example, she describes the "black trees bending" and the "icy ponds that echo back" the owls' cries. These images convey a sense of the natural world as a dark and mysterious place, full of hidden dangers and secrets. Yet, there is also a sense of beauty and wonder in this darkness. The speaker hears the "tragic note" that "almost breaks," as if she is attuned to the deeper currents of life and death that flow through the natural world.
Later in the poem, Teasdale describes the "crimson leaves" that "drift by like dreams." These leaves suggest a sense of transience and impermanence, as if the beauty of nature is always slipping away from us. Yet, there is also a sense of wonder in this fleeting beauty. The leaves are "crimson," a vivid reminder of the vibrant colors that can emerge from the darkness of the natural world.
Ultimately, the poem suggests that our mortality is intimately connected to the rhythms and patterns of nature. As we move through our lives, we are surrounded by the beauty and mystery of the natural world, yet we are also acutely aware of our own mortality. Teasdale captures this complex relationship between life and death with a profound sense of poetry and insight.
The Power of Language in "A November Night"
Finally, one of the most striking aspects of "A November Night" is the power of language to capture the fleeting moments of our lives. Throughout the poem, Teasdale uses vivid imagery and lyrical language to evoke the beauty and sadness of the natural world. Her words are like a tapestry, weaving together the complex emotions and experiences of the human heart.
In the first stanza, for example, she describes the "vague hush" and "blur of blossom" that permeate the air. These words convey a sense of transience and impermanence, as if the beauty of nature is always slipping away from us. Yet, there is also a sense of wonder and mystery in these words, as if the natural world contains secrets and hidden depths that we can only glimpse.
Later in the poem, Teasdale describes the "tragic note" that "almost breaks" the speaker's heart. This phrase is so evocative and poetic, conveying a sense of longing and pain that is almost palpable. The words themselves seem to capture the very essence of human emotion, echoing through the dark and lonely landscape of the poem.
Ultimately, "A November Night" is a testament to the power of language to capture the fleeting moments of our lives. Teasdale's poetry is like a window into the human soul, capturing the beauty and sadness of our experiences with a profound sense of insight and emotion.
Conclusion
As I read and re-read "A November Night," I am struck by the timeless beauty and melancholy of this classic poem. Sara Teasdale's words are like a haunting melody, evoking the beauty and pain of the human experience with profound insight and emotion. Through her exploration of love and loss, nature and mortality, and the power of language to capture the fleeting moments of our lives, Teasdale creates a work of art that speaks to the deepest parts of the human soul. Whether you are reading this poem for the first time or revisiting it after many years, I hope that you will be as captivated by Teasdale's words as I have been.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a beautiful art form 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 Sara Teasdale. This classic poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of a cold, dark November night and the emotions that come with it.
The poem begins with the line, "There! See the line of lights," which immediately sets the scene for the reader. The line of lights refers to the streetlights that are visible on a dark November night. The use of the exclamation mark adds excitement to the poem and draws the reader in.
Teasdale then goes on to describe the scene in more detail, painting a vivid picture of the night. She describes the "cold blue-black" sky, which is a common sight during the winter months. The use of the word "cold" emphasizes the chill in the air and the feeling of isolation that often comes with a winter night.
The next few lines of the poem describe the trees that are visible in the distance. Teasdale writes, "A tree with frost on its boughs / And below, in the lighted houses, / A few people, still awake." These lines create a sense of contrast between the natural world and the human world. The tree with frost on its boughs represents the natural world, while the lighted houses represent the human world. The fact that there are only a few people still awake emphasizes the loneliness of the night.
The next stanza of the poem is where Teasdale really shines. She writes, "Snow falls, / The sky is gray and vast and bare, / And the lights have vanished now." These lines create a sense of desolation and emptiness. The snow falling represents the harshness of winter, while the gray and vast sky represents the feeling of being lost and alone. The fact that the lights have vanished emphasizes the darkness and isolation of the night.
Teasdale then goes on to describe the emotions that come with a November night. She writes, "The world is lost in snow, / And nothing is heard but the sound of the snowfall." These lines create a sense of stillness and quietness. The fact that nothing is heard emphasizes the feeling of being alone and isolated. The snowfall represents the passing of time and the inevitability of change.
The final stanza of the poem is where Teasdale brings everything together. She writes, "Over the world, / A white light shines, / And night seems long and vast." These lines create a sense of hope and optimism. The white light represents the possibility of a new beginning, while the long and vast night represents the challenges that must be overcome. The fact that the night seems long emphasizes the difficulty of the journey, but the white light shining over the world represents the hope that things will get better.
In conclusion, "A November Night" by Sara Teasdale is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of a cold, dark November night. The poem creates a vivid picture of the night and the emotions that come with it. Teasdale's use of language and imagery is masterful, and the poem is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds.
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