Night in Arizona by Sara Teasdale
The poem captures a profound sense of solitude and introspection during a night in the Arizona landscape. The imagery evokes a stark, desolate environment where the moon is likened to a dying ember, suggesting a fading light and a sense of loss. The presence of coyotes adds an element of wildness and untamed nature, contrasting with the speaker's emotional vulnerability. The stars, described as heavy and potentially destructive, symbolize both beauty and danger, hinting at the weight of existence and the fragility of life. The fear of the stars falling and shattering the earth with gold reflects a longing for something precious yet unattainable, emphasizing the tension between desire and reality. The absence of artificial lights on the mesa reinforces the isolation felt by the speaker, who stands at a darkened window, overwhelmed by emotion. The act of crying like a child signifies a deep yearning for comfort and connection in a vast, indifferent universe. Overall, the work explores themes of loneliness, the beauty of nature, and the complexities of human emotion against a backdrop of a stark, night-time landscape.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1918 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Nature · 95 words
First lines
THE moon is a charring ember Dying into the dark;
Off in the crouching mountains Coyotes bark.
The stars are heavy in heaven, Too great for the sky to hold -- What if they fell and shattered The earth with gold?
No lights are over the mesa, The wind is hard and wild, I stand at the darkened window And cry like a child.
What this Textopian page supports
Night in Arizona is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1918 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sara Teasdale
- Date: 1918 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Nature, Romanticism, Imagism
- Length: 95 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Night in Arizona by Sara Teasdale
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, utilizing poetic devices and structure.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature — The imagery and themes focus on natural elements and the landscape of Arizona.
- Romanticism — The poem emphasizes emotion, nature, and individual experience, aligning with Romantic themes.
Tags
night · Arizona · moon · nature · coyotes · stars · darkness · emotions · landscape · wild · solitude · crying