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Sure OnThis Shining Night by James Agee


  • IzzyG
    Nov 20 2:36 AM 2008
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    http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/60501

    Does anybody have a handle on what this poem is about?

  • I-Like-Rhymes
    November 20, 2008 ↑
    Reply
    For what it's worth these are my thoughts.
    Born in November Agee may have been wandering around outdoors on his birthday (or any other night really) pondering the future. He would rather have people think well of him whilst he is alive and not have to wait for posthumous recognition
    " Kindness must watch for me
    This side the ground. "
    As for the penultimate line

    "Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand'ring far alone"

    That is beautifully obvious to me. Watching the stars on a clear, crisp, autumn night is truly wonderous and thought provoking. Especially in solitude.
    Jim

  • Steve Luker
    June 29 ↑
    Reply

    It's a Contemplation on Suicide.

    This is a poem about what lies beyond this Earth and realm.

    It's about longing for a place that must certainly eclipse the seemingly insurmountable beauty and light of this life.

    In this poem, Agee is weeping for that place...

    "On this night, when the stars are so bright as to leave shadows on the ground, Fate (or maybe a Guardian Angel)had better keep a close eye on me.

    "Because, though all is warm and happy around me here on Earth, I long for what lies beyond this life.

    "Though the starlight is beautiful and bright, I long for death, when I can exist in some place where shadows from some greater, unseen Heavenly light fall upon the very stars that seem to shine so brightly tonight."

    If you listen to Morten Lauridsen's composition of this poem, you may get a glimpse of what Agee was trying say
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