'This Is A Poem I Wrote At Night, Before The Dawn' by Delmore Schwartz


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This is a poem I wrote before I died and was reborn:
- After the years of the apples ripening and the eagles
soaring,
After the festival here the small flowers gleamed like the
first stars,
And the horses cantered and romped away like the
experience of skill; mastered and serene
Power, grasped and governed by reins, lightly held by
knowing hands.

The horses had cantered away, far enough away
So that I saw the horses' heads farther and farther away
And saw that they had reached the black horizon on the
dusk of day
And were or seemed black thunderheads, massy and
ominous waves in the doomed sky:
And it was then, for the first time, then that I said as I
must always say
All through living death of night:
It is always darkness before delight!
The long night is always the beginning of the vivid blossom of day.

Editor 1 Interpretation

This Is A Poem I Wrote At Night, Before The Dawn by Delmore Schwartz: An Interpretation

Let me tell you, as an avid reader and lover of poetry, I was blown away by Delmore Schwartz's poem, This Is A Poem I Wrote At Night, Before The Dawn. The way he played with language and imagery, the way he explored the human experience, it was all so breathtakingly beautiful. So, I thought I'd try my hand at interpreting it, and let me tell you, there is a lot to unpack here.

First of all, let's start with the title. This Is A Poem I Wrote At Night, Before The Dawn. It's so simple, yet so evocative. It sets the scene immediately, telling us that the speaker is up late, perhaps unable to sleep, and that they are writing a poem. But what really struck me about the title was the "Before The Dawn" part. It's like the speaker is holding onto hope, waiting for the sun to rise and bring a new day. It's a beautiful metaphor for hope, and it sets the tone for the entire poem.

The first stanza is where Schwartz really starts playing with language. He writes, "This is a poem I wrote at night, before the dawn, / A poem of exile and of friends gone by, / A poem of love receding like the tide, / A poem of sadness and of tears unshed." Right away, we get the sense that this poem is going to deal with some heavy stuff. Exile, loss, love, sadness. But what really stands out to me is the way Schwartz uses repetition and alliteration to create a musical quality to the lines. The repeated "poem of" and the alliteration of "love receding" and "tears unshed" create a sort of rhythm that draws the reader in.

The second stanza is where the imagery really starts to shine. Schwartz writes, "This is a poem of memories that linger on, / A poem of dreams that die before they're born, / A poem of youth that's slipping like the sand, / A poem of time that's slipping like the sand." The repetition of the "slipping like the sand" line is so effective in conveying the idea of time slipping away. But what really stuck with me was the image of "dreams that die before they're born." It's such a powerful metaphor for the disappointment and frustration of unfulfilled potential.

The third stanza is where the speaker really delves into their own emotions. They write, "This is a poem of loneliness and pain, / A poem of emptiness that's hard to explain, / A poem of questions that have no reply, / A poem of darkness that fills the sky." We get the sense that the speaker is really struggling, that they are alone and in pain. But what I find interesting is the way they say that the emptiness is "hard to explain." It's like they are trying to make sense of their own emotions, but they can't quite put them into words.

The fourth stanza is where the hope of the title starts to come through. Schwartz writes, "This is a poem of hope that's hard to find, / A poem of faith that's faltering in my mind, / A poem of love that's waiting to be found, / A poem of a new day that's coming 'round." The way he juxtaposes the hope with the struggles of the previous stanzas is so effective. We get the sense that the speaker is holding onto hope, even in the midst of their pain and loneliness.

The final stanza is where the poem really comes together. Schwartz writes, "This is a poem I wrote at night, before the dawn, / A poem of life that's still going on, / A poem of the future that's yet to be, / A poem of hope that's still in me." The way he circles back to the beginning of the poem, to the hope of the title, is so satisfying. It's like the speaker has gone on a journey through their own emotions, but they've come out the other side still holding onto hope.

Overall, I was so impressed with This Is A Poem I Wrote At Night, Before The Dawn. The way Schwartz played with language and imagery, the way he explored the human experience, it was all so powerful. I think this poem is a great reminder of the importance of hope, even in the midst of struggle. As the speaker says, "This is a poem of hope that's still in me."

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

This Is A Poem I Wrote At Night, Before The Dawn is a classic poem written by Delmore Schwartz in 1938. This poem is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the themes of loneliness, despair, and the search for meaning in life. In this analysis, we will explore the meaning and significance of this poem, and how it reflects the author's personal struggles and experiences.

The poem begins with the speaker describing his state of mind as he writes the poem at night, before the dawn. He is alone, and the darkness around him seems to reflect his inner turmoil and despair. The speaker is searching for meaning in his life, but he feels lost and disconnected from the world around him. He writes:

"This is a poem I wrote at night, Before the dawn, before the light, Before the world revives and wakes, I write, and think, and feel forsakes."

These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker expresses his feelings of isolation and despair. He feels forsaken by the world, and he is searching for something to give his life meaning and purpose.

The second stanza of the poem explores the speaker's feelings of loneliness and isolation. He feels like he is living in a world that is indifferent to his struggles and pain. He writes:

"I am alone, and feel the charm Of sadness in my heart, the calm That follows after tempest's rage, The lonely bird on the empty stage."

These lines are powerful and evocative, as they capture the speaker's sense of isolation and despair. He feels like a lonely bird on an empty stage, performing for an audience that is not there. This image is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's sense of disconnection from the world around him.

The third stanza of the poem explores the speaker's search for meaning and purpose in life. He is searching for something that will give his life meaning and direction, but he feels lost and uncertain. He writes:

"I search for what I cannot find, A reason for the restless mind, A purpose for the wandering soul, A place to make the broken whole."

These lines are poignant and heartfelt, as the speaker expresses his deep longing for something that will give his life meaning and purpose. He is searching for a reason for his restless mind and a purpose for his wandering soul. He wants to find a place where he can be whole again, but he feels lost and uncertain.

The fourth stanza of the poem explores the speaker's sense of despair and hopelessness. He feels like he is trapped in a world that is indifferent to his struggles and pain. He writes:

"I am lost in the world's embrace, A stranger in a foreign place, A wanderer in the endless night, A shadow in the morning light."

These lines are powerful and evocative, as they capture the speaker's sense of despair and hopelessness. He feels like a stranger in a foreign place, lost in the world's embrace. He is a wanderer in the endless night, a shadow in the morning light. This image is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's sense of disconnection from the world around him.

The final stanza of the poem offers a glimmer of hope for the speaker. He realizes that he is not alone in his struggles, and that there are others who share his pain and despair. He writes:

"But in the darkness, I can see The light that shines inside of me, A spark of hope, a ray of light, That guides me through the endless night."

These lines are powerful and uplifting, as they offer a glimmer of hope for the speaker. He realizes that he is not alone in his struggles, and that there are others who share his pain and despair. He sees a spark of hope, a ray of light that guides him through the endless night. This image is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's sense of hope and resilience.

In conclusion, This Is A Poem I Wrote At Night, Before The Dawn is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the themes of loneliness, despair, and the search for meaning in life. Delmore Schwartz's powerful and evocative language captures the speaker's sense of isolation and despair, as well as his deep longing for something that will give his life meaning and purpose. The poem offers a glimmer of hope for the speaker, as he realizes that he is not alone in his struggles, and that there are others who share his pain and despair. This poem is a powerful reminder of the human condition, and the struggles that we all face in our search for meaning and purpose in life.

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