'Words, Wide Night' by Carol Ann Duffy
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The Other Country1990Somewhere 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 sayit 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 youand this is what it is like or what it is like in words.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Words, Wide Night by Carol Ann Duffy
From the very first line of "Words, Wide Night," Carol Ann Duffy's words embrace readers with a feeling of comfort and intimacy. This poem speaks to the universal human desire for connection and the search for meaning in life.
The Theme of Love and Longing
"Words, Wide Night" is a love poem - but not just any love poem. It is an ode to the power of language to connect two people in a deep and emotional way. Through the speaker's sensual descriptions of every aspect of the natural world, the reader can feel the intensity of the speaker's emotions.
The poem begins with a simple statement: "Somewhere on the other side of this wide night / and the distance between us, I am thinking of you." Immediately, we are drawn into the speaker's world, where distance and separation mean nothing in the face of a love so strong it transcends physical barriers.
The poem goes on to describe the speaker's longing for their beloved in vivid detail, using rich and evocative language. The speaker describes the "scent of the meadowsweet" and the "sound of the river" as if they were physical sensations - and in a way, they are. The speaker is using these sensory experiences to convey the depth of their emotions and the power of their love.
The Importance of Language
One of the most striking things about "Words, Wide Night" is the way that language is portrayed as a force that can bridge distance and bring people together. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses images from the natural world to evoke a sense of connection between themselves and their beloved.
For example, the speaker compares their love to "the wild rose briar" and "the sound of birds" - both images that are associated with beauty, freedom, and the natural world. By using these images, the speaker is suggesting that their love is something pure and natural, something that transcends the boundaries of human experience.
At the same time, however, the speaker is also aware of the limitations of language. The poem ends with the lines "Words, which are everything and nothing, / are the only weightless thing you can carry / from this place to the next." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that words have their limits - they can only do so much to convey the depth of human emotion. However, even though words are limited, they are still important - they are the only thing that can be carried from one place to another, and they are the only thing that can connect people across distances.
The Power of Nature
Another important theme in "Words, Wide Night" is the power of nature to evoke emotions and connect people. Throughout the poem, the speaker uses images from the natural world to express their feelings of love and longing.
For example, the speaker describes the "sound of the river" and the "scent of the meadowsweet" as if they were physical sensations, suggesting that these natural phenomena have a powerful emotional impact on the speaker. In this way, the poem suggests that the natural world has a deep and intrinsic connection to human emotions and experiences.
At the same time, however, the poem also acknowledges the fleeting and ephemeral nature of human relationships. The speaker describes their love as "a wild rose briar," suggesting that it is beautiful but also fragile and impermanent. By juxtaposing images of nature with images of human emotion, the poem suggests that both are subject to the same laws of impermanence and change.
Conclusion
"Words, Wide Night" is a powerful and evocative poem that speaks to the universal human experience of love and longing. Through its rich and sensual imagery, it portrays language as a force that can transcend distance and connect people in a deep and emotional way. At the same time, the poem also acknowledges the limitations of language and the fleeting nature of human relationships. Overall, "Words, Wide Night" is a testament to the power of poetry to evoke emotions and express the deepest aspects of human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Words, Wide Night: A Poetic Journey of Love and Longing
Carol Ann Duffy's "Words, Wide Night" is a beautiful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, longing, and the power of language. The poem is a journey through the speaker's emotions as she reflects on her love for her partner and the ways in which language can capture and express the depth of her feelings.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing her lover, saying "Somewhere on the other side of this wide night / and the distance between us, I am thinking of you." The use of the word "somewhere" immediately creates a sense of distance and separation, which is reinforced by the phrase "the distance between us." However, despite this physical distance, the speaker's thoughts are consumed by her lover, and she is unable to escape the pull of her emotions.
The second stanza continues this theme of longing, as the speaker describes the night as "black as ink" and "filled with the promise of you." The use of the word "promise" suggests that the speaker is anticipating a future reunion with her lover, and that this anticipation is what is driving her through the darkness of the night. The imagery of the night as "black as ink" also creates a sense of mystery and uncertainty, as if the speaker is venturing into the unknown in search of her beloved.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to explore the power of language to express her feelings. She says, "The words that are your own / become the fingerprints of silence." This line is particularly striking, as it suggests that language has the power to capture the essence of a person's being, even in their absence. The idea of words as "fingerprints of silence" also suggests that language can fill the gaps left by physical distance, allowing the speaker to feel connected to her lover even when they are apart.
The third stanza continues this exploration of language, as the speaker describes the way in which her lover's words have become a part of her. She says, "Every word you speak is full of color / I am lost in your bright language." The use of the word "color" suggests that language has the power to evoke vivid and intense emotions, and that the speaker is deeply affected by her lover's words. The phrase "lost in your bright language" also suggests that language has the power to transport the speaker to another world, where she is able to escape the darkness of the night and be with her lover.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as the speaker declares her love for her partner in a series of vivid and evocative images. She says, "Love is a shadow. / How you lie and cry after it / Listen: these are its hooves. / It has gone off, like a horse." The use of the metaphor of love as a shadow suggests that it is elusive and difficult to grasp, and that the speaker is constantly chasing after it. The image of the hooves also suggests that love is a powerful force that can move quickly and unpredictably, and that the speaker is struggling to keep up with it.
Overall, "Words, Wide Night" is a beautiful and deeply moving poem that explores the themes of love, longing, and the power of language. Through vivid imagery and evocative language, Carol Ann Duffy captures the essence of the speaker's emotions and takes the reader on a journey through the darkness of the night and the depths of the speaker's heart. Whether you are a lover of poetry or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of language, "Words, Wide Night" is a must-read that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
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