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Poet: Emily Dickinson (Emily Dickinson Art)
Poem: 249.
Wild Nights -- Wild Nights!
Volume: Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson
Year: Published/Written in 1955
Comment 14 of 14, added on July 6th, 2009 at 8:20 PM.
I think it was about having fun – perhaps it was about a memory that she had, a fond memory of a boating trip with her family at a lake in Amherst, Massachusetts or even on the coast of Massachusetts and maybe she wishes that she could do that again -- but probably won't get a chance to because her mom and dad died, so all she has left is that memory -- and maybe she likes to revisit that memory, that night, in her mind's eye, because she knows in her heart that she won't get another chance to do so in life.
None of her other poems were sexual, so why would this one be? And if you think about the era in which she lived, women were not allowed to talk about sex or express their sexual desires and if she was so terribly shy around people she knew (friends and family), what makes you think that she'd be brave enough to write a poem about sex -- knowing that it might possibly be published? I really truly do not think that this is about sex. I think that it is just about a happy memory that she had and how she wishes she could have another boating trip with her family. It's similar to how we have fun with our family at the beach or have fun at the lake today. She just wishes that she could have another chance to do that with her family, but she can't because her mom and dad are dead (for all we know this poem could've been written just before her dad's death or just after).
Jenny from United States
Comment 13 of 14, added on January 4th, 2007 at 4:19 PM.
In this poem I think Emily Dickinson speaks fairly clearly what she is talking about, especially when you read a selection from what Colonel Higginson wrote to his co-editor in 1891, when an edition of Emily Dickinson's poems was being prepared. He wrote:
One poem only I dread a little to print--that wonderful 'Wild Nights,'--lest the malignant read into it more than that virgin recluse ever dreamed of putting there.
The poem was not omitted, but it does show the narrow-mindedness involving sexuality at this time period, for even then one-night stands were common as they are today. Whether she participated in these activities, or ever had sex in her life, will of course always remain unknown, but this is my insight on the poem:
When she speaks of "Were I with thee" it sounds as though she is remembering a past time of having sex, or perhaps is just thinking wishfully of sex. She continues with "Wild nights should be our luxury" which sounds like maybe the man she is speaking about told her he was too busy to see her or something...then she says "Futile the winds to a heart in port" which I believe to mean basically that no one can stop a person or a "heart" in love...perhaps not even this man's wife? She then says "done with the compass, done with the chart" which maybe means that she is tired of rules and guidelines, or perhaps she is tired of how society views things; after all she did become a recluse, and disagreed greatly with society, especially along the lines of religion...
Anyway, she continues "rowing in Eden" which perhaps means something about passing through sin, or passing through knowledge, because as the bible reads, the Garden of Eden did not stay holy forever, and in fact contained sin and the knowledge of evil (as well as good, of course, but that is beside the point) So maybe she is saying how she would be gaining knowledge or sin. She finishes with "Might I but moor To-night in thee!" which perhaps she does not mean sexually at all (all you who's minds are deeply in the gutter! :-D) but perhaps more in a way of staying near him, or even in his house, or perhaps just feeling safe with him for just one night, against society...maybe having him be on her side about having sex, when all of society is against her? Well that's just my interpretation, anyway...good luck with whatever you're doing! Report, essay, pleasure reading, etc...
Marissa from United States
Comment 12 of 14, added on January 20th, 2006 at 2:03 AM.
I tried to read the poem as a travel by ship which last as long as life. It could happen that "Wild nights" of storm came to break up the calm and make us feel "alive" with their ensemble of storming emotions, but these are futile to a heart in port who has found his true love and thus sails into the calm water of the Eden, certain to have a safe place where to moor.
Federico from Italy
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Comments
I think it was about having fun – perhaps it was about a memory that she had, a fond memory of a boating trip with her family at a lake in Amherst, Massachusetts or even on the coast of Massachusetts and maybe she wishes that she could do that again -- but probably won't get a chance to because her mom and dad died, so all she has left is that memory -- and maybe she likes to revisit that memory, that night, in her mind's eye, because she knows in her heart that she won't get another chance to do so in life.
None of her other poems were sexual, so why would this one be? And if you think about the era in which she lived, women were not allowed to talk about sex or express their sexual desires and if she was so terribly shy around people she knew (friends and family), what makes you think that she'd be brave enough to write a poem about sex -- knowing that it might possibly be published? I really truly do not think that this is about sex. I think that it is just about a happy memory that she had and how she wishes she could have another boating trip with her family. It's similar to how we have fun with our family at the beach or have fun at the lake today. She just wishes that she could have another chance to do that with her family, but she can't because her mom and dad are dead (for all we know this poem could've been written just before her dad's death or just after).
Jenny from United States