Night Mail - W.H. Auden
A Journey of Words and Letters Across the Night Sky
This is the night mail crossing the border,
Bringing the cheque and the postal order,
Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,
The shop at the corner and the girl next door.
Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb,
The gradient's against her, but she's on time.
Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder,
Shovelling white steam over her shoulder,
Snorting noisily as she passes,
Silent miles of wind-bent grasses.
Birds turn their heads as she approaches,
Stare from the bushes at a strange noise,
Cock pheasant stares from the farmyard oaks,
And the sheep in the fields as the train goes by.
Letters of thanks, letters from banks,
Letters of joy from the girl and boy,
Receipted bills and invitations
To inspect new stock or visit relations,
And applications for situations,
And timid lovers' declarations,
And gossip, gossip from all the nations,
News circumstantial, news financial,
Letters with holiday snaps to enlarge in,
Letters with faces scrawled in the margin,
Letters from uncles, cousins, and aunts,
Letters to Scotland from the South of France,
Letters of condolence to Highlands and Lowlands,
Notes from overseas to Hebrides.
In the farmsteads, light after light goes out,
But the morning's due and the train must not wait.
She comes to the valley, the valley so still,
With its houses asleep and its hills afar,
And the signals flash and the engines roar,
And the city draws nearer with every yard.
This is the night mail, arriving at dawn,
With its load of stories, of lives begun,
Of fortunes made and of hearts undone,
Of dreams that are dreamed and of tasks begun.
Introduction to "Night Mail"
"Night Mail", authored by W.H. Auden, is a captivating poem that follows the journey of a night mail train as it traverses across borders, delivering letters and packages to various recipients. The poem beautifully captures the essence of human connection through written communication and reflects on the diverse emotions and stories conveyed through these correspondences.
The Journey Begins
The poem opens with the line, "This is the night mail crossing the border," immediately setting the scene for an adventurous journey. The night mail train symbolizes the bridge between distant places and people, bringing both essential and trivial items such as cheques, postal orders, and letters for everyone from the rich to the poor, and from businesses to individuals. This imagery emphasizes the universal nature of mail—how it touches every stratum of society.
A Steady Climb: Overcoming Obstacles
"Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb, / The gradient's against her, but she's on time." These lines highlight the train’s perseverance and reliability. Despite facing physical challenges like steep gradients, the train remains steadfast in its mission. The depiction of the train shoveling white steam over her shoulder adds a vivid visual element, portraying the locomotive as almost alive, laboring through the rugged landscape filled with cotton-grass and moorland boulders.
Nature's Observance
As the train moves forward, it disrupts the tranquility of the natural world. Birds and animals react to its presence, turning their heads or staring curiously at the strange noise it makes. "Cock pheasant stares from the farmyard oaks, / And the sheep in the fields as the train goes by." This interaction between the mechanical and the natural world underscores the intrusion of human activity into serene environments, yet it also suggests a harmonious coexistence.
The Contents of the Mail
The poem delves into the contents of the letters carried by the train, each representing different facets of human life and emotion. From expressions of gratitude and joy to business communications and declarations of love, the letters encapsulate a wide array of experiences. "Letters of thanks, letters from banks, / Letters of joy from the girl and boy," reveals the multifaceted nature of human relationships maintained through correspondence. The inclusion of gossip and news from around the globe highlights the interconnectedness of societies.
Personal Stories and Universal Themes
Auden further elaborates on the personal significance of these letters: "Letters with holiday snaps to enlarge in, / Letters with faces scrawled in the margin," illustrating intimate moments shared across distances. Family updates, condolences, and overseas notes reflect broader themes of life, death, and global connections. Each letter carries a fragment of someone’s life, contributing to the collective tapestry of human experience.
The Arrival
As dawn approaches, the train nears its destination. "In the farmsteads, light after light goes out, / But the morning's due and the train must not wait." This transition from night to day mirrors the passage of time and the inevitability of progress. The stillness of the valley, with sleeping houses and distant hills, contrasts with the train's urgency, creating a poignant juxtaposition.
Conclusion: A Tapestry of Human Lives
The final stanza encapsulates the profound impact of the night mail: "This is the night mail, arriving at dawn, / With its load of stories, of lives begun, / Of fortunes made and of hearts undone, / Of dreams that are dreamed and of tasks begun." Here, Auden conveys how these letters represent beginnings, endings, achievements, and aspirations. The night mail serves as a conduit for human narratives, weaving together countless stories into a single journey.
Themes and Reflections
- Human Connection: The poem underscores the importance of communication in maintaining relationships and understanding diverse human experiences.
- Perseverance: The relentless journey of the train despite obstacles reflects resilience and dedication.
- Interconnectedness: By highlighting various types of correspondence, Auden illustrates how interconnected our world is, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.
- Time and Progress: The transition from night to dawn symbolizes the passage of time and the continuous march of progress.
In conclusion, "Night Mail" by W.H. Auden is more than just a description of a train journey; it is a meditation on human connectivity, resilience, and the myriad stories that define our existence. Through evocative imagery and thoughtful reflections, Auden crafts a timeless piece that resonates with readers, reminding us of the power and beauty of written communication.
Key points
W.H. Auden's 'Night Mail' captures the quiet beauty and significance of human connection through letters carried by an overnight train, blending vivid imagery with a reflective tone to highlight how ordinary acts like writing can bridge lives; it reminds readers of the timeless value of communication, the shared human experience, and the poetic harmony between man-made progress and nature’s serenity.