Night by Madison Cawein (1903)

Name: Night
Author: Madison Cawein

The poem explores the transition from day to night, personifying Night as a solemn figure that brings beauty and tranquility. The imagery contrasts the vibrant, fiery departure of Day with the serene, calming presence of Night. Night is depicted as a nurturing entity, akin to a nun, who envelops the world in darkness, inviting rest and contemplation. The poem describes the landscape under the night sky, highlighting the stillness of water and the soft glow of the moon. Flowers, particularly roses and violets, are portrayed as delicate and vulnerable, succumbing to the soothing influence of Night. The gentle breezes and the song of a dreaming bird contribute to the atmosphere of peace and introspection. Night's presence is both beautiful and melancholic, evoking themes of sorrow and longing. The violets symbolize innocence and fragility, reflecting the deeper emotional currents of the human experience. As Night moves through the landscape, she interacts tenderly with the flowers, bestowing kisses and tears, suggesting a connection between nature and human emotions. The poem concludes with Night's departure, likening her to a mother leaving her child, emphasizing the transient nature of peace and the inevitable return of day. The overall tone is one of reverence for the beauty of the night and the complex emotions it stirs within the observer.

By Madison Cawein · First published 1903 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism · 622 words

First lines

Lo! where the car of Day down slopes of flame On burnished axle quits the drowsy skies! And as his snorting steeds of glowing brass Rush 'neath the earth, a glimmering dust of gold From their fierce hoofs o'er heaven's azure meads Rolls to yon star that burns beneath the moon. With solemn tread and holy-stoled, star-bound, The Night steps in, sad votaress, like a nun, To pace lone corridors of th' ebon-arched sky. How sad! how beautiful! her raven locks Pale-filleted with stars that dance their sheen On her deep, holy eyes, and woo to sleep, Sleep or the easeful slumber of white Death! How calm o'er this great water, in its flow Silent and vast, smoothes yon cold sister sphere, Her lucid chasteness feathering the wax-white foam! As o'er a troubled brow falls calm content: As clear-eyed chastity in this bleak world Tinges and softens all the darker dross.

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Night is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1903 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Madison Cawein
Date: 1903 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Symbolism, Imagism
Length: 622 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses deep emotions and personal reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Nature Poetry — The vivid imagery of nature and its elements is central to the poem's themes.
Romanticism — The poem embodies Romantic ideals, focusing on beauty, emotion, and the sublime aspects of nature.
Symbolism — The use of symbols, such as night and nature, conveys deeper meanings and emotions.