Good Night by Edward Thomas (1917)
The poem explores themes of solitude, transience, and the connection between the speaker and the environment. The speaker reflects on the absence of familiar sounds from nature, such as skylarks and nightingales, replaced by the overwhelming noise of urban life. Despite this, the voices of children in the streets evoke a sense of warmth and belonging, creating a contrast between the alienation of the city and the comfort found in its unexpected moments of joy. The speaker acknowledges their status as a stranger in the town, yet feels a sense of kinship with the surroundings. The imagery of twilight and the mention of church windows suggest a blend of nostalgia and acceptance of impermanence. The idea of "All Friends' Night" symbolizes a farewell to the place, emphasizing the fleeting nature of experiences and connections. The poem captures the essence of finding solace in unfamiliarity, highlighting the beauty in transient encounters and the shared humanity that exists even in solitude.
By Edward Thomas · First published 1917 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Nature · 180 words
First lines
The skylarks are far behind that sang over the down;
I can hear no more those suburb nightingales;
Thrushes and blackbirds sing in the gardens of the town In vain: the noise of man, beast, and machine prevails.
But the call of children in the unfamiliar streets That echo with a familiar twilight echoing, Sweet as the voice of nightingale or lark, completes A magic of strange welcome, so that I seem a king Among man, beast, machine, bird, child, and the ghost That in the echo lives and with the echo dies.
What this Textopian page supports
Good Night is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edward Thomas, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edward Thomas
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Nature, Romanticism, Reflective
- Length: 180 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing lyrical language and imagery typical of poetry.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature — The poem features themes of nature, particularly through references to birds and the environment.
- Romanticism — The work embodies Romantic themes such as individual experience and emotional depth.
Tags
Poetry · Nature · Sleep · Nighttime · Reflection · Mortality · Existentialism · Philosophy · Literary Fiction · Symbolism · Imagery · Language