Poets play with words and Shelley was no exception … clearly evident in the following poem …
Goodnight
Goodnight? ah no, the night is ill
Which severs those it should unite;
Let us remain together still,
Then it will be good night.
How can I call the lone night good,
Though thy sweet wishes wing its flight?
Be it not said, thought, understood;
Then it will be good night.
To hearts which near each other move
From evening close to morning light
The night is good; because my love,
They never say goodnight.
P. B. Shelley (1792 – 1822)
It is essential to have the words before you to understand this poem. There is a difference between good night and goodnight!
In stanza one the night will not be good if ‘you’ are not by my side, implying a close relationship with someone.
In stanza two the night will not be good if there is thought or an understanding of a separation; even though the person has sweet wishes.
And in stanza three, for those that are in total commune with their soulmates, there is no need to say goodnight – no break in the spiritual connection that Shelley associates with the word goodnight. The night will always be good.
The philosophy and poetry of P. B. Shelley
I love Shelley. Thanks for sharing this!