'Words, Wide Night' by Carol Ann Duffy
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Somewhere on the other side of this wide night
and the distance between us, I am thinking of you.
The room is turning slowly away from the moon.
This is pleasurable. Or shall I cross that out and say
it is sad? In one of the tenses I singing
an impossible song of desire that you cannot hear.
La lala la. See? I close my eyes and imagine the dark hills I would have to cross
to reach you. For I am in love with you
and this is what it is like or what it is like in words.
Submitted by Anne Williams
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Words, Wide Night" by Carol Ann Duffy: A Poetic Masterpiece
Are you looking for a poem that captures the essence of love and longing in a mere fourteen lines? Look no further than Carol Ann Duffy's "Words, Wide Night." This classic poem, first published in 1985, has since become a staple of romantic literature and a testament to the power of language.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a closer look at the themes, imagery, and poetic devices that make "Words, Wide Night" a timeless work of art.
Theme: Love and Longing
At its core, "Words, Wide Night" is a love poem. It expresses the deep longing and desire that two lovers feel when they are apart. The speaker of the poem imagines her lover in a distant place, and longs for the words that will bring him back to her.
The first stanza sets the tone for the entire poem:
Somewhere on the other side of this wide night
And the distance between us, I am thinking of you.
The room is turning slowly away from the moon.
This is pleasurable. Or shall I cross that out and say
It is sad?
The speaker acknowledges the distance between her and her lover, and yet she can't help thinking of him. The line "the room is turning slowly away from the moon" is a masterful use of imagery, as it conveys the sense of disorientation and loneliness that the speaker feels.
But then she questions her own feelings, wondering if her pleasure in thinking of her lover is really sadness in disguise. This ambiguity is a hallmark of Duffy's work, as she often explores the complex and contradictory nature of human emotions.
The second stanza continues this theme of love and longing:
In one of the tenses I singing
an impossible song of desire that you cannot hear.
La lala la. See? I close my eyes and imagine the dark hills
I would have to cross
to reach you. For I am in love with you
and this is what it is like or what it is like in words.
Here the speaker imagines herself singing a song of desire that her lover cannot hear. This is a poignant image, as it underscores the fundamental disconnect between the two lovers. Despite their deep feelings for each other, they are separated by time and space.
The line "I close my eyes and imagine the dark hills I would have to cross to reach you" is another beautiful use of imagery. The hills represent the obstacles that the speaker must overcome to be reunited with her lover. And yet, she is willing to face them, because she is in love.
Imagery: Moon, Stars, and Hills
One of the most striking features of "Words, Wide Night" is its vivid and evocative imagery. Duffy uses the natural world to convey the emotions of the speaker and to create a sense of atmosphere.
The moon and stars are recurring motifs throughout the poem. They represent the vastness of the universe and the distance between the lovers. In the first stanza, the room turns "slowly away from the moon," creating a sense of disorientation and loneliness. In the second stanza, the speaker imagines herself crossing "the dark hills" to reach her lover, and we can almost see the stars twinkling in the sky above her.
The hills themselves are a powerful image. They represent the obstacles that the speaker must overcome to be reunited with her lover. They also suggest a sense of adventure and danger, as if the speaker is embarking on a heroic quest.
Poetic Devices: Repetition, Alliteration, and Enjambment
Duffy is a master of poetic technique, and "Words, Wide Night" is full of examples of her skill. One of the most striking features of the poem is the repetition of certain words and phrases. For example, the phrase "wide night" appears twice in the first stanza, creating a sense of continuity and unity.
Alliteration is another device that Duffy uses to great effect. The line "La lala la" in the second stanza is a perfect example. The repetition of the "l" sound creates a musical quality to the poem, and reinforces the sense of the speaker singing a song of desire.
Finally, enjambment is an important aspect of Duffy's style. Many of the lines in "Words, Wide Night" continue onto the next, creating a sense of fluidity and movement. This is particularly evident in the second stanza, where the lines flow seamlessly into each other.
Conclusion: A Poem for the Ages
In "Words, Wide Night," Carol Ann Duffy has created a poem that speaks to the heart of human experience. Through her use of vivid imagery, poetic technique, and complex themes, she has crafted a work of art that will stand the test of time.
So if you're looking for a poem that captures the essence of love and longing, look no further than "Words, Wide Night." You won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Words, Wide Night: A Poem of Love and Longing
Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Words, Wide Night" is a beautiful and haunting exploration of love and longing. Written in 1986, the poem is a classic example of Duffy's unique style, which blends the personal and the universal to create a deeply emotional and resonant work of art.
At its core, "Words, Wide Night" is a love poem. It is addressed to a lover, and the speaker expresses her deep and abiding love for this person in a series of vivid and evocative images. The poem is structured as a series of couplets, each of which contains a single image or idea. These images build upon one another, creating a rich and complex portrait of the speaker's feelings.
The poem begins with the line "Somewhere on the other side of this wide night," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the work. The speaker is separated from her lover, and the night is a symbol of this distance. However, the speaker is not resigned to this separation. Instead, she is filled with a sense of hope and possibility. She believes that her love can bridge the gap between them, and she is determined to find a way to be with her lover.
The first couplet of the poem contains an image of the moon, which is a common symbol of love and romance. The speaker describes the moon as "pale as bone," which suggests that her love is pure and unblemished. The moon is also a symbol of the passage of time, and the speaker's use of the word "bone" suggests that her love will endure even after death.
The second couplet contains an image of a bird, which is a symbol of freedom and escape. The speaker describes the bird as "flown," which suggests that her lover has left her. However, the bird is also a symbol of hope, and the speaker believes that her love can bring her lover back to her.
The third couplet contains an image of a river, which is a symbol of life and vitality. The speaker describes the river as "running slow," which suggests that time is passing slowly for her. However, the river is also a symbol of continuity, and the speaker believes that her love will endure even as time passes.
The fourth couplet contains an image of a star, which is a symbol of hope and guidance. The speaker describes the star as "fallen," which suggests that her lover has fallen from grace. However, the star is also a symbol of redemption, and the speaker believes that her love can bring her lover back to her.
The fifth couplet contains an image of a flower, which is a symbol of beauty and fragility. The speaker describes the flower as "opened," which suggests that her love is vulnerable and exposed. However, the flower is also a symbol of growth and renewal, and the speaker believes that her love will continue to grow and flourish.
The final couplet of the poem contains an image of a heart, which is a symbol of love and emotion. The speaker describes the heart as "beating," which suggests that her love is alive and strong. However, the heart is also a symbol of vulnerability, and the speaker acknowledges that her love is fragile and easily broken.
Throughout the poem, Duffy uses vivid and evocative language to create a sense of longing and desire. She uses images of nature to convey the speaker's emotions, and she uses repetition to reinforce the central themes of the poem. The poem is also notable for its use of enjambment, which creates a sense of momentum and movement.
In conclusion, "Words, Wide Night" is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of love and longing. Duffy's use of vivid and evocative language creates a sense of emotional depth and resonance, and her use of imagery and repetition reinforces the central themes of the poem. Overall, "Words, Wide Night" is a classic example of Duffy's unique style, and it remains a powerful and moving work of art.
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