Wild Nights! Wild Nights as a Mystic Poem
Wild nights – Wild nights! is a notable literary work by Emily Dickinson. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Wild nights – Wild nights!.
Answer
Find out the mystic, religious, and elements of love in the poem “Wild Nights – Wild Nights.” [NU: 2015, 18, 20]
Emily Dickinson’s (1830-1886) poem “Wild Nights – Wild Nights!” (1891) deals with love, desire, and religious devotion. In this poem, Dickinson mixes both love and religious images. Because of this, the poem can be read as both a love poem and a mystic poem.
The Element of Love: At the beginning, we see the poet’s strong desire for love. She says:
“Wild nights – Wild nights!
Were I with thee.”
It means she wishes to be with her beloved. She also wishes to spend the nights in “luxury” with her beloved. Here, luxury means her physical and emotional happiness. So, this poem is a passionate love poem.
Mystic and Religious Elements: We also find mystic and religious elements. In the second stanza, Dickinson talks about a soul that has reached the port (বন্দর). It means the soul has found true love. This love can also be interpreted as God’s love. The poet compares herself to a boat and God to a safe port. It means God gives shelter and comfort. She says:
“Futile – the winds –
To a Heart in port -”
It means a soul that finds true devotion to God, that soul is safe from all worldly troubles. Strong winds or troubles cannot do her any harm.
Moreover, we find another religious image in the final stanza. The poet compares the happiness of being with her beloved with “rowing in Eden.” She says:
“Rowing in Eden –
Ah – the Sea!”
Eden is the paradise of God. She feels heavenly joy in her beloved’s arms.
In short, the poem brings together love, religion, and mysticism. It shows the passion between lovers. At the same time, it suggests the soul’s union with God.