Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Muriel Rukeyser's poem "In the Night the Sound Woke Us" is a vivid and evocative portrayal of an intense and transformative nocturnal experience. Through detailed imagery and a keen sense of atmosphere, Rukeyser captures the mysterious and almost surreal quality of the moment, blending themes of labor, nature, and rebirth.

The poem begins with an abrupt awakening: "In the night the sound woke us." This immediate disturbance sets a tone of urgency and curiosity. The speaker and their companion ascend to the deck of the ship, stepping into a scene of stark contrast: "Brightness of brightness in the black night." This striking image emphasizes the intense illumination against the surrounding darkness, suggesting a moment of revelation or epiphany.

Rukeyser then describes the ship, "standing still, her hold wide open. / Light shining orange on the lumber / her cargo, fresh strong-smelling wood." The ship, normally a symbol of movement and journey, is now motionless, its hold exposed. The fresh lumber, illuminated by the orange light, signifies newness and vitality, its strong scent adding a sensory depth to the scene.

The poem introduces a central figure, "A tall elder sailor standing at the winches, / his arms still, down; not seeming to move, / his hands hidden behind / black leather balcony." The sailor's stillness and the hidden position of his hands lend him an enigmatic presence. His silver hair and serene, stern face convey a sense of wisdom and authority as he oversees the operation.

The winches, central to the poem's action, "fell and rose with the newborn wood. / Orange and blazing in the lights it rose." The cyclical motion of the winches lifting the lumber underscores themes of labor and rebirth. The wood, "newborn" and "blazing," suggests a process of creation and transformation occurring in the midst of night.

Rukeyser situates the scene in "Vancouver straits, a northern midnight," grounding the poem in a specific, yet expansive, geographic location. The speaker's sense of deliverance from death—"Delivered from death I stood awake / seeing it brought to the cool shining air"—implies a personal rebirth or awakening, mirroring the rise of the fresh lumber from the ship's hold.

The poem concludes with a profound reflection: "O death, skillful, at night, in the bright light / bringing to birth. / Over my head / I see it in the air." Here, Rukeyser addresses death directly, acknowledging its role not only in ending but also in facilitating new beginnings. The imagery of the lumber suspended in the air above the speaker suggests a moment of transcendence, where the ordinary process of unloading cargo takes on a symbolic significance.

"In the Night the Sound Woke Us" masterfully blends vivid imagery with deep thematic exploration. Through the lens of a nocturnal maritime scene, Rukeyser contemplates themes of rebirth, labor, and the intertwined nature of life and death. The poem's evocative language and striking contrasts create a powerful meditation on the moments of transformation that occur in the midst of darkness and stillness.

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