'In The Secular Night' by Margaret Atwood

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In the secular night you wander around
alone in your house. It's two-thirty.
Everyone has deserted you,
or this is your story;
you remember it from being sixteen,
when the others were out somewhere, having a good time,
or so you suspected,
and you had to baby-sit.
You took a large scoop of vanilla ice-cream
and filled up the glass with grapejuice
and ginger ale, and put on Glenn Miller
with his big-band sound,
and lit a cigarette and blew the smoke up the chimney,
and cried for a while because you were not dancing,
and then danced, by yourself, your mouth circled with purple.
Now, forty years later, things have changed,
and it's baby lima beans.
It's necessary to reserve a secret vice.
This is what comes from forgetting to eat
at the stated mealtimes. You simmer them carefully,
drain, add cream and pepper,
and amble up and down the stairs,
scooping them up with your fingers right out of the bowl,
talking to yourself out loud.
You'd be surprised if you got an answer,
but that part will come later.There is so much silence between the words,
you say. You say, The sensed absence
of God and the sensed presence
amount to much the same thing,
only in reverse.
You say, I have too much white clothing.
You start to hum.
Several hundred years ago
this could have been mysticism
or heresy. It isn't now.
Outside there are sirens.
Someone's been run over.
The century grinds on.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry in the Secular Night - An Exploration of Margaret Atwood's Masterpiece

If poetry is about expressing emotions, then Margaret Atwood's Poetry in the Secular Night is a perfect example of how it can be done. This poem is a masterful work of literary art that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. In this essay, we will explore the themes and imagery that Atwood uses to evoke such strong emotions in her readers.

Overview

Poetry in the Secular Night is a poem that explores the nature of human existence and the human condition. It is a poem that speaks to the loneliness and isolation that we all feel at times, as well as to the beauty and wonder of life. The poem is divided into three stanzas, and each stanza explores a different aspect of the human experience.

Analysis

First Stanza

The first stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of existence. Atwood begins by describing the secular night, a time when the world seems empty and meaningless. She speaks of the "cold, cold feet" of the night, and the "silent, silent walls" that surround us. These lines evoke a sense of isolation and loneliness, as if the speaker is alone in the world.

Atwood then goes on to describe the human condition in terms of a "puzzle," something that we are all trying to solve. She speaks of "pieces" that we are trying to fit together, and of "fingers" that are "stiff with wanting." This imagery suggests that we are all searching for some kind of meaning or purpose in life, but that it is often just out of reach.

The final lines of the stanza are perhaps the most powerful. Atwood writes that "we are not what we remember of ourselves," suggesting that our memories of ourselves are not necessarily accurate. This line is a reminder that we are constantly changing and evolving, and that our sense of self is not fixed.

Second Stanza

The second stanza of the poem shifts focus to the natural world. Atwood describes the beauty of the world around us, from the "moon's white slice" to the "brown bird" that sings in the night. This imagery is in sharp contrast to the isolation and loneliness of the first stanza, and suggests that there is still beauty and wonder in the world, even in the midst of darkness.

Atwood also uses the second stanza to explore the idea of time. She writes of "hours" and "days" that pass us by, and of the "slow growth" of trees. This imagery suggests that time is constantly moving forward, and that we are powerless to stop it. At the same time, the slow growth of the trees is a reminder that there is still beauty and growth in the world, even as time passes us by.

Third Stanza

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most hopeful. Atwood speaks of the "bright pebbles" that we find along the way, suggesting that there are moments of joy and wonder in life, even in the midst of darkness. She also writes of the "hands of the child" that reach out to us, suggesting that there is still love and connection in the world, even when we feel isolated and alone.

The final lines of the poem are a reminder that life is fleeting, and that we must make the most of the time we have. Atwood writes that "we have not long to love," suggesting that we must cherish the moments of joy and connection that we have, before they too pass us by.

Conclusion

Poetry in the Secular Night is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. Atwood's use of imagery and language is masterful, and she paints a picture of a world that is both lonely and full of wonder. This poem is a reminder that life is fleeting, and that we must cherish the moments of joy and connection that we have, before they too pass us by.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry In The Secular Night: A Masterpiece of Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood is a renowned Canadian poet, novelist, and literary critic who has contributed immensely to the world of literature. Her works are known for their feminist themes, dystopian settings, and vivid imagery. One of her most celebrated poems is "Poetry In The Secular Night," which was first published in 1984. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human existence, the power of language, and the role of poetry in our lives. In this article, we will analyze and explain this poem in detail.

The poem "Poetry In The Secular Night" is a free verse poem that consists of six stanzas. The poem begins with the line, "In the secular night you wander around alone in your house." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a reflection on the human condition. The secular night refers to the darkness of the modern world, where people are disconnected from each other and from the divine. The speaker of the poem is addressing the reader, who is wandering around alone in their house, lost in their thoughts.

The second stanza of the poem is a powerful statement about the power of language. The speaker says, "It's difficult to say anything meaningful in this condition." This line suggests that in the secular night, it is hard to find meaning in life. However, the speaker goes on to say, "I have been trying to say something in this language for years." This line suggests that the speaker has been using language to find meaning in life, even in the darkness of the secular night.

The third stanza of the poem is a reflection on the role of poetry in our lives. The speaker says, "It's not a matter of language, but of wanting to communicate something." This line suggests that poetry is not just about the words, but about the desire to communicate something to others. The speaker goes on to say, "I have been trying to say something that uplifts the spirits for years." This line suggests that the speaker sees poetry as a way to uplift the spirits of others, to bring light into the darkness of the secular night.

The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the human condition. The speaker says, "There is no one to hear me, and the trees don't care." This line suggests that in the secular night, people are alone and disconnected from nature. The speaker goes on to say, "I am alone with my words, and they are meaningless." This line suggests that in the darkness of the secular night, words lose their meaning, and people feel lost and alone.

The fifth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the power of poetry. The speaker says, "But sometimes, when the light strikes at odd angles and pulls you back into childhood and you are passing a crumbling mansion completely hidden behind old willows and barbed wire, and you see through the fence the path up to the house, and you know that within you there are a thousand omniscient eyes and you could spend all day staring at the moss on the steps and the disrepair of the huge room, but then you know you must go back to the world." This long and complex sentence suggests that poetry has the power to transport us to another world, to a place where we can see things from a different perspective. The speaker is describing a moment when the light strikes at odd angles, and they are transported back to childhood. This moment is a reminder of the power of poetry to transport us to another world, to a place where we can see things from a different perspective.

The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the power of language. The speaker says, "It's the language that speaks to us, that gives us the power to say it." This line suggests that language is not just a tool for communication, but a source of power. The speaker goes on to say, "It's the language that speaks to us, that gives us the power to say it." This line suggests that language is not just a tool for communication, but a source of power. The speaker is suggesting that language has the power to shape our thoughts and our lives.

In conclusion, "Poetry In The Secular Night" is a masterpiece of Margaret Atwood that captures the essence of human existence, the power of language, and the role of poetry in our lives. The poem is a reflection on the darkness of the modern world, where people are disconnected from each other and from the divine. The poem suggests that poetry has the power to transport us to another world, to a place where we can see things from a different perspective. The poem is a reminder of the power of language to shape our thoughts and our lives. Overall, "Poetry In The Secular Night" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that deserves to be read and studied by all lovers of literature.

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