Original Poem：
Awake in a giant night
is where I am
There is a river where my soul,
hungry as a horse drinks beside me
An hour of immense possibility flies by
and I do nothing but sit in the present
which keeps changing moment to moment
How can I tell you my mind is a blanket?
It is an amazing story you won’t believe
and a beautiful land
where something is always doing in the barns
especially in autumn
Sliding down the hayrick!
By March the sun is lingering and the land turns wet
Brooks grow loud
The eddies fill with green scum
Crocuses lift their heads to say hello
Soon it is good to be planting
By then the woods are overflowing
with dogwood, redbud, hickory, red and white oaks,
hazelnut bushes, violets, jacks-in-the-pulpit,
skunk cabbages, pawpaws and May apples
whose names thrill you because you can name them!
There are quail and rabbits too—but I go on too long
Like the animal, I must stop by the water’s edge
to have a drink and think things over
*
That was good. The drink I mean
I feel refreshed and ready for anything
Though I’m not in Vermont or Kentucky unfortunately
but in New York City, the toughest place in the world
And it’s December
Here someone is always weeping, including me
though I tend to cry in monster waves then turn into a fish
wallowing in my own salty
Puddle! Look out
If you aren’t wearing boots you’ll be sorry
and soggy too
*
This season’s cruelty hurts me
and others, I’m sure, who’d rather be elsewhere but can’t
because of their jobs, families, friends, money
It’s rough anyway you look at it
But what can you do?
It’s worse elsewhere, I’m sure
Take Vietnam
No thanks
I think about Vietnam a lot, however
and wonder if I’ll ever “see” it
The way I’ve seen Europe, I mean
Those pretty Dutch girls!
They all ride bicycles
In Venice you travel by boat or foot
The metro and the underground register like the names
in connection with them:
Hugo, Stephen, Stuart, Larry, Lee, Harry, David, Maxine
What does it all mean?
I never ask that, being shy
In this apartment in which I dwell these thoughts pass by
I hope you won’t mind the mess when you do too
*
You just walk in up a flight and you’re in paradise
A cup of coffee, an easy chair, a loving person waiting for you
who’s washing the dishes, reading a book
Outside someone’s worrying about love and not sitting down either
He’s probably freezing his ass off right now!
And other vital parts which would feel great in the country,
taking a walk, a hike, shoveling snow
Though you can do that right here
*
The hub of the universe is where I am in a night whose promise
grows with me, unlike the snow melting in the gutter
Whatever I do, it is beside me
I look out the window, there is night
I sit in this lighted room knowing this night
Night! Night! I wish you’d go so I could go
to the post office, the bank, the supermarket
Why aren’t they open at night? I wonder
Then realize I’m not the only person who’s
considered in the grand scope of daily living
There are those fast asleep who want to be and would be horrified
if the post office, the bank, and the supermarket
were only open at night
for you can’t be all there all the time
I myself am only here part of the time
which is enough
For there are other places to run to
Uptown, for example, where energy rushes you
like some hideous but intriguing chemical
you can’t ignore
and you want to absorb the wisdom these buildings have
How do they feel so high up like that?
Pretty good, they seem to say in their absolute way
But it’s the people inside who turn us on
By then you are gone off in a cab
and you are not alone
I am beside you
The streets are familiar from just traveling through
We rarely stop and when we do there’s a reason
Which is too bad
We miss a lot for this same reason
*
They’re probably feeding the chickens about this time
The smell of chicken feed overwhelms me
The rooster crows on a 7th Street fire escape
Breakfast is ready
There is a forest by the river near the barn
where things are happening,
a whole new world on the edge of dawn
*
My little world goes on St. Mark’s Place
To be not tired, but elated, I sing this song
I think of The Beatles and The Beach Boys
and the songs they sing
It is a different thing to be behind the sound
then leave it forever
and it goes on without them, needing only you and me
Here I am, though you are asleep
The morning of December 3rd dawns on me
in the shape of a poem called “Giant Night”
It must end before it is too late
All over the world children will celebrate Christmas
And families will gather together to give and take this season
Other religions and customs will prevail in their own separate ways
having nothing to do with Christmas
Soldiers will cease fire
Some won’t know the difference but might be able to sense it
in the air
The smell of holly, pine, eggnog
The friendly faces of Santa and his elves
All these will add up to something and be gone forever
Just like what is here one minute and not the next.
Analysis and Interpretation of the Poem
This poem, titled "Giant Night," is a vivid and contemplative reflection on time, nature, and human experience. The poem opens with the speaker awake during a vast, encompassing night, symbolizing a moment of deep awareness or introspection. The river beside the speaker acts as a metaphor for the soul’s thirst for meaning and life’s continuous flow. The poem captures the transient nature of time, as the speaker sits in the present moment, which is always changing.
The poem moves through seasons and landscapes, from autumn barns and hayricks to the wetness of March and the blooming of crocuses, vividly describing nature’s cycles. This imagery creates a connection between the external world and the speaker’s internal emotional state. The speaker’s mind is described as a "blanket," suggesting warmth, comfort, and complexity—an amazing story and a beautiful land full of life and activity.
The poem then shifts to urban life in New York City during December, contrasting the natural imagery with the harshness and emotional struggles of city living. The speaker acknowledges the pain and loneliness many feel in this tough environment, yet also reflects on the universality of hardship, mentioning places like Vietnam and Europe, and the desire to understand different cultures and experiences.
The poem’s tone is intimate and conversational, inviting readers into the speaker’s thoughts and feelings. It explores themes of memory, place, belonging, and the passage of time, while also touching on the hope and renewal that come with each new day and season.
Background and Author Introduction
While the poem itself does not specify its author, it reflects the style of modern American poets who blend personal reflection with vivid natural and urban imagery. Such poets often explore the interplay between the individual and their environment, weaving together moments of quiet observation with broader social and cultural commentary.
The poem’s detailed descriptions of nature and city life suggest the author is deeply connected to both rural and urban settings, possibly drawing from personal experience living in New York City and appreciating the countryside. The references to historical and cultural places like Vietnam, Europe, and Venice hint at a well-traveled and thoughtful individual.
Reflections and Insights from the Poem
Reading this poem encourages us to appreciate the beauty in everyday moments, whether in nature or the city. It reminds us that life is a series of fleeting experiences, each with its own significance. The poem also highlights the importance of mindfulness—being present and aware of the changing world around us.
The contrast between the peaceful natural scenes and the harsh urban reality invites reflection on how different environments affect our emotions and outlook. The poem’s honesty about loneliness and hardship, paired with moments of hope and connection, offers a balanced and human perspective.
Educational Value and Learning Points
For children and students, this poem offers multiple learning opportunities:
- Vocabulary Building: The poem introduces diverse words related to nature (e.g., crocuses, pawpaws, jacks-in-the-pulpit) and urban life (e.g., metro, fire escape), expanding students’ descriptive language.
- Imagery and Metaphor: Students can explore how the poet uses vivid imagery and metaphor to convey emotions and ideas, such as the mind as a blanket or the soul as a thirsty horse.
- Seasonal Changes: The poem is an excellent resource for learning about the seasons and natural cycles, linking them to human feelings and activities.
- Cultural Awareness: References to different places and customs encourage curiosity about geography, history, and cultural diversity.
- Emotional Expression: The poem models how to express complex feelings like loneliness, hope, and contemplation through poetry.
Practical Applications and Life Lessons
- Mindfulness Practice: Students can learn to observe their surroundings carefully and appreciate the present moment, as the speaker does.
- Writing Inspiration: The poem can inspire creative writing exercises where students describe their own environment or emotions using sensory details.
- Empathy Development: Reflecting on the poem’s themes helps build empathy by understanding different life experiences and emotions.
- Seasonal Awareness: Teachers can use the poem to integrate science and literature by discussing seasonal changes alongside poetic descriptions.
- Urban vs. Rural Life: The poem offers a platform to discuss the differences and similarities between city and countryside living, fostering broader social understanding.
Reading Comprehension Questions
- What does the river beside the speaker symbolize in the poem?
- How does the poem describe the changing seasons? Give two examples.
- What contrast does the poem draw between nature and city life?
- Why does the speaker mention places like Vietnam and Europe?
- What emotions does the speaker express about living in New York City during December?
- How does the poem use imagery to create a sense of place?
- What is the significance of the poem’s title, "Giant Night"?
- How does the poem reflect on the idea of time and change?
- What lessons about life and feelings can readers learn from this poem?
- How might this poem inspire someone to appreciate their own environment more?
Answer Key
- The river symbolizes the speaker’s soul and its hunger for meaning and life, representing a continuous flow of experience.
- The poem describes seasons by mentioning autumn barns and hayricks, and March with lingering sun, wet land, and blooming crocuses.
- The poem contrasts the peaceful, natural world with the harsh, emotional struggles of urban life in New York City.
- The speaker mentions Vietnam and Europe to reflect on different cultures and personal desires to understand the world beyond their immediate environment.
- The speaker feels loneliness, sadness, and emotional waves but also a sense of resilience and readiness.
- Imagery such as "sliding down the hayrick," "brooks grow loud," and "rooster crows on a fire escape" creates vivid scenes of both rural and urban settings.
- The title "Giant Night" suggests a vast, encompassing time of reflection, mystery, and possibility.
- The poem shows time as fleeting and ever-changing, with moments that come and go like the seasons and daily life.
- Readers learn about mindfulness, the beauty of nature, the complexity of emotions, and the importance of presence and hope.
- The poem encourages people to observe and appreciate their surroundings, whether natural or urban, finding meaning in everyday moments.
This poem is a rich resource for students to explore language, emotion, and the world around them, fostering both literary appreciation and personal growth.
