Night Mail

 

Night Mail

W.H. AUDEN

"This is the night mail crossing the Border,"

The poem begins by introducing the subject, which is the night mail train crossing a border, indicating that the train is traveling from one place to another, possibly between countries.

 

"Bringing the cheque and the postal order,"

The train is bringing both checks (cheques) and postal orders, suggesting that it's transporting financial transactions and communications.

 

"Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,"

The train carries letters for people from various socioeconomic backgrounds, emphasizing its role in connecting different sections of society.

 

"The shop at the corner, the girl next door."

The mail on the train includes items destined for small local shops as well as for ordinary individuals, emphasizing the wide range of recipients.

 

"Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb:"

The train is ascending a slope at Beattock, maintaining a steady pace despite the uphill terrain.

 

"The gradient's against her, but she's on time."

Despite the challenging incline, the train is maintaining its schedule and is on time, showcasing its efficiency and reliability.

 

"Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder"

The train continues its journey through a landscape characterized by cotton-grass and rocky areas typical of moorland.

 

"Shovelling white steam over her shoulder,"

This line describes the train emitting white steam as it moves, resembling a person shoveling snow over their shoulder.

 

"Snorting noisily as she passes"

The train makes loud snorting or puffing noises as it goes by, adding to the sensory imagery.

 

"Silent miles of wind-bent grasses."

While the train is noisy, the landscape it passes through is silent, with grasses bent by the wind.

 

"Birds turn their heads as she approaches,"

Birds in the area notice the approaching train and turn their heads in response.

 

"Stare from bushes at her blank-faced coaches."

Birds hidden in bushes look at the train's coaches, which have blank or neutral expressions, using personification to give the train a sense of personality.

 

"Sheep-dogs cannot turn her course;"

Even sheepdogs, known for guiding and herding, cannot change the train's path. This line underscores the train's unwavering journey.

 

"They slumber on with paws across."

The sheepdogs continue to sleep with their paws stretched out, emphasizing their lack of influence on the train's direction.

 

"In the farm she passes no one wakes,"

The train passes a farm without waking anyone, highlighting the quiet passage of the train through the sleeping countryside.

 

"But a jug in a bedroom gently shakes."

Despite the general silence, a jug in a bedroom trembles or shakes slightly, likely due to the train's vibrations passing through the area.

"Dawn freshens, Her climb is done."

The dawn (early morning light) becomes fresher as the train's uphill climb has been completed. This indicates that the train has reached the peak of its journey.

 

"Down towards Glasgow she descends,"

The train is now descending towards the city of Glasgow, suggesting that it's moving downhill from its elevated position.

 

"Towards the steam tugs yelping down a glade of cranes"

The train is heading toward an area where steam-powered tugboats are making yelping sounds. These tugboats are likely maneuvering in a waterway surrounded by cranes (large machines used for lifting heavy objects).

 

"Towards the fields of apparatus, the furnaces"

The train is also moving in the direction of industrial areas with a variety of equipment (apparatus) and large furnaces. This imagery highlights the industrial landscape the train is entering.

 

"Set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen."

The furnaces are described as being positioned on a dark, flat landscape like enormous chess pieces on a chessboard. This metaphor emphasizes their massive and strategic presence in the industrial setting.

 

"All Scotland waits for her:"

The train's arrival is anticipated by all of Scotland, suggesting its importance as a means of communication and connection.

 

"In dark glens, beside pale-green lochs"

People in remote and secluded areas of Scotland, described as dark glens (valleys) and pale-green lochs (lakes), are waiting for the train's news.

 

"Men long for news."

The people in these areas eagerly anticipate receiving news brought by the train. This line underscores the train's role in disseminating information across the country.

 

"Letters of thanks, letters from banks,"

The train carries letters expressing gratitude as well as correspondence from financial institutions.

 

"Letters of joy from girl and boy,"

The mail includes letters conveying happiness and excitement from both young girls and boys.

 

"Receipted bills and invitations"

The train transports bills that have been paid and formal invitations to events or occasions.

 

"To inspect new stock or to visit relations,"

The invitations mentioned earlier could be for inspecting new merchandise (stock) or for visiting family members (relations).

 

"And applications for situations,"

The train is carrying job applications from individuals seeking employment opportunities.

 

"And timid lovers' declarations,"

The mail includes declarations of love from shy or hesitant lovers.

 

"And gossip, gossip from all the nations,"

There are letters containing gossip and news from various countries.

 

"News circumstantial, news financial,"

The train is transporting both detailed accounts of events and financial news.

 

"Letters with holiday snaps to enlarge in,"

Some letters contain vacation photographs meant to be enlarged.

 

"Letters with faces scrawled on the margin,"

There are letters with drawings or faces scribbled in the margins.

"Letters from uncles, cousins, and aunts,"

The mail includes letters from extended family members.

 

"Letters to Scotland from the South of France,"

Letters are sent from the South of France to Scotland.

 

"Letters of condolence to Highlands and Lowlands"

The train carries letters expressing condolences to both the Highlands and the Lowlands of Scotland.

 

"Written on paper of every hue,"

The letters are written on paper of various colors.

 

"The pink, the violet, the white and the blue,"

Specific colors of paper are mentioned, highlighting the diversity.

 

"The chatty, the catty, the boring, the adoring,"

The letters vary in tone from casual and gossipy to critical, dull, and affectionate.

 

"The cold and official and the heart's outpouring,"

The range of letters includes formal, detached communications as well as emotionally charged expressions.

 

"Clever, stupid, short and long,"

The letters come in a range of styles, from intelligent and concise to foolish and lengthy.

 

"The typed and the printed and the spelt all wrong."

The letters include typed and printed text, as well as text with spelling mistakes.

"Thousands are still asleep,"

The poet describes a large number of people who are currently sleeping.

 

"Dreaming of terrifying monsters"

Some of these sleeping individuals are having dreams involving frightening creatures.

 

"Or of friendly tea beside the band in Cranston's or Crawford's:"

Others are dreaming of more pleasant scenes, like enjoying tea in the company of a musical band at places named Cranston's or Crawford's, which are likely tea rooms or cafes.

 

"Asleep in working Glasgow, asleep in well-set Edinburgh,"

People are sleeping in different cities, including Glasgow and Edinburgh. The terms "working" and "well-set" suggest the varied lifestyles of those living in these places.

 

"Asleep in granite Aberdeen,"

People are also sleeping in Aberdeen, which is known for its gray granite architecture.

 

"They continue their dreams,"

Despite the train's journey and the activities described earlier in the poem, these people remain in their dream state.

 

"But shall wake soon and hope for letters,"

The poet anticipates that these individuals will wake up soon and have expectations of receiving letters.

 

"And none will hear the postman's knock"

When the postman knocks on their doors to deliver mail, the sleeping individuals won't hear it.

 

"Without a quickening of the heart,"

If they were to hear the knock, their hearts would beat faster in anticipation.

 

"For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?"

The poet reflects on the universal human feeling of not wanting to be forgotten, emphasizing the emotional importance of receiving letters and messages.