'Lights Out' by Edward Thomas
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I have come to the borders of sleep,
The unfathomable deep
Forest where all must lose
Their way, however straight,
Or winding, soon or late;
They cannot choose.
Many a road and track
That, since the dawn's first crack,
Up to the forest brink,
Deceived the travellers,
Suddenly now blurs,
And in they sink.
Here love ends,
Despair, ambition ends,
All pleasure and all trouble,
Although most sweet or bitter,
Here ends in sleep that is sweeter
Than tasks most noble.
There is not any book
Or face of dearest look
That I would not turn from now
To go into the unknown
I must enter and leave alone
I know not how.
The tall forest towers;
Its cloudy foliage lowers
Ahead, shelf above shelf;
Its silence I hear and obey
That I may lose my way
And myself.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Journey into the Dark: An Analysis of Edward Thomas’ “Lights Out”
As the sun sets on the horizon, the world transforms into a different realm. The bright colors of the day fade away, and the world is enveloped in darkness. This transition from light to dark has always fascinated poets and writers, and Edward Thomas’ “Lights Out” is no exception. In this poem, Thomas takes us on a journey into the night, exploring the beauty and mystery of darkness. Through his use of imagery, symbolism, and metaphors, Thomas creates a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of the night.
Background
Edward Thomas was a British poet and writer who lived from 1878 to 1917. He is considered one of the most important poets of the 20th century, and his work is known for its deep connection to nature and the English countryside. Thomas was a close friend of Robert Frost, and it was Frost who encouraged Thomas to start writing poetry. Thomas’ poems are known for their simplicity and clarity, and his use of language is often described as understated and subtle.
Analysis
“Lights Out” is a poem that explores the beauty and mystery of the night. The poem is divided into two stanzas, each containing four lines. The first stanza sets the scene, as Thomas describes the transition from light to dark:
I have come to the borders of sleep,
The unfathomable deep
Forest where all must lose
Their way, however straight,
Here, Thomas creates a sense of mystery and uncertainty. The “borders of sleep” suggest that we are on the brink of something unknown and unfamiliar. The “unfathomable deep” forest implies that we are entering a place that is mysterious and difficult to understand. The line “where all must lose / Their way, however straight” suggests that even those who are confident and sure of themselves will eventually become lost in the darkness.
In the second stanza, Thomas continues to explore the theme of darkness:
Or winding ways lead round a hedge
Which, if once crossed, will close
And leave me derelict,
A roaming spirit without home.
Here, Thomas uses the metaphor of a hedge to represent the barriers that separate us from the unknown. The hedge is something that we can cross, but once we do, we will be lost and alone. The line “leave me derelict” suggests that we will be abandoned and forgotten, while the phrase “a roaming spirit without home” implies that we will be wandering aimlessly, with no sense of direction or purpose.
Throughout the poem, Thomas uses imagery to convey a sense of mystery and uncertainty. The “unfathomable deep” forest, the winding ways that lead round a hedge, and the idea of being a “roaming spirit without home” all create a sense of unease and uncertainty. At the same time, however, Thomas also celebrates the beauty of the night. The darkness is something to be explored and appreciated, not feared and avoided.
Interpretation
“Lights Out” is a poem that explores the theme of darkness, both literally and metaphorically. On one level, the poem is about the beauty and mystery of the night. Thomas celebrates the darkness as something to be explored and appreciated, not feared and avoided. Through his use of imagery and metaphor, Thomas creates a sense of mystery and wonder that invites us to enter the unknown.
On another level, however, the poem is also about the darkness that we all experience in our lives. The hedge that separates us from the unknown can be seen as a metaphor for the barriers that we all encounter in life. These barriers can be physical or emotional, and they can prevent us from moving forward and achieving our goals. The idea of being a “roaming spirit without home” suggests that we all have moments when we feel lost and alone, with no sense of direction or purpose.
At the same time, however, the poem also suggests that we can find beauty and meaning in the darkness. The darkness is not something to be feared, but rather something to be explored and appreciated. Through his use of language and imagery, Thomas invites us to embrace the unknown and find beauty in the darkness.
Conclusion
“Lights Out” is a hauntingly beautiful poem that captures the essence of the night. Through his use of imagery, symbolism, and metaphors, Edward Thomas creates a sense of mystery and wonder that invites us to enter the unknown. At the same time, however, the poem also explores the darkness that we all experience in our lives. Through his use of language and imagery, Thomas suggests that we can find beauty and meaning in the darkness, if only we are willing to embrace it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry is a form of art that has the power to evoke emotions, stir the soul, and transport us to another world. One such poem that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers even today is "Lights Out" by Edward Thomas. This classic poem is a masterpiece of modernist literature that explores the themes of death, nature, and the human condition. In this article, we will take a closer look at this poem and analyze its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
"Lights Out" was written by Edward Thomas in 1917, during the First World War. Thomas was a British poet and writer who served in the army during the war and was killed in action in 1917. The poem was published posthumously in his collection of poems, "Last Poems," which was released in 1918. The poem is a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, themes that were prevalent during the war.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each consisting of four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter, with four stressed syllables in each line. The poem's structure is simple yet effective, with each stanza building on the previous one to create a sense of inevitability and finality.
The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker reflecting on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of life. The opening line, "Lights out along the land," is a metaphor for the end of life, with the "lights" representing the life force that is extinguished at death. The use of the word "land" suggests a sense of finality, as if the speaker is referring to the end of the world. The second line, "The lights out on the sea," continues the metaphor, with the sea representing the vastness of life and the unknown. The third line, "The gangway's down," is a reference to the gangway on a ship, which is lowered to allow passengers to disembark. In this context, it suggests that the speaker is preparing to leave this world. The final line of the stanza, "The Anvil-Dark, Damp huts of the town," is a contrast to the previous lines, with the speaker describing the darkness and dampness of the town. This line suggests that even in life, there is darkness and decay, and that death is a release from this.
The second stanza continues the theme of death and decay, with the speaker reflecting on the passing of seasons and the inevitability of change. The opening line, "Frost on the window-panes," is a metaphor for the coldness and finality of death. The second line, "Fog creeping over the lee," suggests a sense of foreboding, with the fog representing the unknown and the lee representing a place of danger. The third line, "The last unfrozen leaves," is a reference to the end of autumn and the onset of winter, with the leaves representing life and vitality. The final line of the stanza, "Horn at the distant door," is a metaphor for death, with the horn representing the call of the afterlife.
The third and final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker reflecting on the beauty of nature and the inevitability of death. The opening line, "And the great bell tolls," is a reference to the funeral bell, with the tolling representing the end of life. The second line, "And the green leaves on the trees," is a contrast to the previous lines, with the speaker describing the beauty of nature. The third line, "Frost on the ground," brings the poem full circle, with the frost representing the coldness and finality of death. The final line of the poem, "The leaves are withered and brown," is a metaphor for the end of life, with the withered leaves representing the decay and finality of death.
The poem is rich in literary devices, with Thomas using metaphors, imagery, and symbolism to convey his message. The use of metaphor is prevalent throughout the poem, with Thomas using the "lights out" metaphor to represent the end of life. The use of imagery is also effective, with Thomas using the frost, fog, and leaves to create a sense of foreboding and finality. The symbolism of the bell, the horn, and the gangway all add to the poem's sense of inevitability and finality.
In conclusion, "Lights Out" by Edward Thomas is a masterpiece of modernist literature that explores the themes of death, nature, and the human condition. The poem's structure, literary devices, and imagery all work together to create a sense of foreboding and finality, with the "lights out" metaphor representing the end of life. The poem is a reflection on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, themes that were prevalent during the First World War. Even today, the poem continues to inspire readers and evoke emotions, making it a true classic of modernist literature.
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