"Meeting at Night" is a poem written by the Victorian poet Robert Browning. It describes a man's journey by sea to meet his lover at night. The poem is written in five stanzas, with each stanza containing four lines.
The poem begins with the man setting out on his journey by boat, "The grey sea and the long black land; / And the yellow half-moon, large and low". The sea is described as grey, perhaps indicating the uncertain and potentially dangerous nature of the journey. The black land, which is presumably the shore, serves as a contrast to the sea and the moon, which is described as yellow and low in the sky.
As the man travels, he sees various sights and experiences various emotions. He sees "the steamship trails" and "the white sails" in the distance, perhaps indicating the man's longing for his lover and the anticipation of their reunion. He also feels a sense of dread, as he sees "The black night reeled with it". This could be a metaphor for the man's own emotions as he approaches the meeting with his lover.
In the third stanza, the man arrives at his destination and sees his lover's light in the distance. He describes the light as "a beacon, an old lighthouse" that guides him to his lover. The image of the lighthouse is a symbol of hope and guidance, as it leads the man safely to his lover.
The fourth stanza describes the man's arrival at his lover's house, where he "climbed the narrow stair" to meet her. The narrow stair could symbolize the difficulty and uncertainty of the journey, as the man had to navigate through the dangers of the sea and the night to reach his lover.
In the final stanza, the man and his lover are reunited and embrace, "And we sate down, each drawn close to the other". The use of the word "sate" suggests a sense of comfort and contentment, as the man and his lover sit down together and draw close to each other. The poem ends with the line "So intimate, this meeting at night", emphasizing the deep connection and affection between the man and his lover.
Overall, "Meeting at Night" is a beautifully written poem that captures the emotions and experiences of a man on a journey to meet his lover. The use of vivid imagery and symbol, as well as the intimate and emotional language, make it a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the enduring power of love.