“September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

“September Midnight” by Sara Teasdale first appeared in print in 1914, published in the prominent literary magazine Poetry. The poem offers a poignant meditation on the waning days of summer. Teasdale utilizes vivid imagery to paint a scene bathed in the fading light of an “Indian Summer,” where the chirping birds have been replaced by the “passionless chant” of insects. A sense of melancholic awareness permeates the poem as the speaker contemplates the inevitable arrival of winter. The power of “September Midnight” lies in its masterful use of simple language to evoke a profound sense of nostalgia for the ephemeral warmth of summer.

Text: “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

Annotations: “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

Stanza	Text	Annotations
1	Lyric night of the lingering Indian Summer,	The poet sets the scene of a late summer night, evoking a sense of beauty and nostalgia.
	Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing,	Describes the fields as dark but alive with sound, emphasizing the auditory experience.
	Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects,	There are no birds singing; instead, the insects provide a constant, monotonous background noise.
	Ceaseless, insistent.	Highlights the persistent nature of the insect sounds.
2	The grasshopper’s horn, and far-off, high in the maples,	Specifics about the sounds, mentioning the grasshopper’s chirp and the distant noise from the maples.
	The wheel of a locust leisurely grinding the silence	Imagery of a locust’s noise, almost rhythmic, adding to the ambiance of the night.
	Under a moon waning and worn, broken,	Describes the moon as old and fading, hinting at the passage of time and the approach of autumn.
	Tired with summer.	Suggests that the moon is weary from the season, possibly mirroring the weariness felt by the poet.
3	Let me remember you, voices of little insects,	The poet expresses a desire to remember the sounds of the insects, implying their significance in this moment.
	Weeds in the moonlight, fields that are tangled with asters,	Mentions the visual elements of the scene, highlighting the moonlit weeds and the tangled fields adorned with asters, a type of flower.
	Let me remember, soon will the winter be on us,	Reiterates the urgency of remembering this moment, as winter, with its silence, is approaching.
	Snow-hushed and heavy.	Describes the impending winter as quiet and burdensome, contrasting with the lively sounds of the current season.
4	Over my soul murmur your mute benediction,	The poet metaphorically connects the sounds of the night to a blessing, suggesting a spiritual connection or comfort derived from nature’s sounds.
	While I gaze, O fields that rest after harvest,	The poet reflects on the harvested fields, finding solace in their quietness after the labor of the season.
	As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to,	Likens the poet’s gaze to a farewell, suggesting a deep, lingering connection with the scene.
	Lest they forget them.	Emphasizes the importance of remembering the moment and the feelings it evokes.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

Device	Examples	Explanation
Alliteration	“Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects”	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.
	“The grasshopper’s horn”
	“Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing”
Allusion	“Indian Summer”	Reference to a well-known cultural or literary work (in this case, a late period of warm weather).
Assonance	“Let me remember you, voices of little insects”	Repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words for rhythmic or musical effect.
	“Ceaseless, insistent”
Consonance	“The grasshopper’s horn”	Repetition of consonant sounds within nearby words for rhythmic or lyrical effect.
	“Far-off, high in the maples”
Enjambment	“The grasshopper’s horn, and far-off, high in the maples,”	Continuation of a sentence or phrase without a pause beyond the end of a line or stanza.
Hyperbole	“Ceaseless, insistent”	Exaggeration for emphasis, highlighting the relentless nature of the insect sounds.
Imagery	“Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing”	Vivid description appealing to the senses, creating a visual and auditory image.
	“Weeds in the moonlight, fields that are tangled with asters”
Juxtaposition	“Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing”	Placing contrasting ideas or images side by side to highlight their differences or similarities.
Metaphor	“The wheel of a locust leisurely grinding the silence”	A direct comparison between two unlike things for poetic effect (the locust’s noise).
	“Under a moon waning and worn, broken”
Onomatopoeia	“The grasshopper’s horn”	Words that imitate the sound they represent, enhancing the auditory experience.
Oxymoron	“Snow-hushed and heavy”	A combination of contradictory or opposing words for emphasis and heightened effect.
	“Moon waning and worn”
Paradox	“Under a moon waning and worn”	A statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but may reveal a deeper truth.
Repetition	“Let me remember, let me remember”	Repeating words or phrases for emphasis, reinforcing the importance of memory in the poem.
	“Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects”
Symbolism	“Moon waning and worn”	Use of symbols to represent ideas or concepts beyond their literal meaning (e.g., passage of time).
	“Weeds in the moonlight, fields that are tangled with asters”
	“Indian Summer”

Themes: “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

1. Waning Summer and the Inevitability of Winter: The poem is steeped in the atmosphere of a late summer night, characterized by the fading light of a “waning and worn” moon. The “shadowy fields” and the replacement of birdsong with the “passionless chant” of insects all hint at the approaching colder season. The speaker’s plea to “Let me remember” emphasizes the desire to hold onto the warmth of summer before the inevitable arrival of “snow-hushed and heavy” winter.
2. Beauty in the Unsung: The poem finds beauty in the often-overlooked aspects of the natural world. Instead of focusing on the vibrant colors of summer, Teasdale highlights the “scentless” fields and the nighttime chorus of insects. The “grasshopper’s horn” and the “locust” grinding the silence become sources of melancholic charm.
3. The Power of Memory: The speaker recognizes the fleeting nature of summer and actively seeks to preserve its essence through memory. The plea of “Let me remember” is repeated, emphasizing the importance of holding onto these sensory details before they are replaced by the starkness of winter.
4. Connection to the Natural World: The poem establishes a deep connection between the speaker and the natural world. The speaker directly addresses the “fields” and the “voices of little insects” as if seeking solace and a “mute benediction” from them. The act of gazing at the fields “that rest after harvest” mirrors the speaker’s own reflection on the passing season.

Literary Theories and “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

Literary Theory	Example from the Poem	Explanation
1. New Criticism	“Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects”	New Criticism focuses on close reading of the text itself, emphasizing the intrinsic meaning derived from its literary elements. This line highlights the absence of traditional natural imagery (birds) and emphasizes the dominance of insect sounds, inviting readers to analyze the poem’s thematic and symbolic implications within the context of nature.
2. Feminist Theory	“Let me remember you, voices of little insects”	Feminist theory examines literature through the lens of gender and power dynamics. In this line, the poet’s desire to remember the voices of insects can be interpreted as a metaphor for valuing the voices and experiences of the marginalized or overlooked, reflecting a feminist perspective on the importance of amplifying voices traditionally relegated to the background.
3. Ecocriticism	“Shadowy fields that are scentless but full of singing”	Ecocriticism explores the relationship between literature and the environment, emphasizing themes of nature, ecology, and human impact. This line juxtaposes the sensory perception of scentless fields with the auditory experience of vibrant insect sounds, prompting reflection on humanity’s connection to the natural world and the ways in which we perceive and interact with our surroundings.

Critical Questions about “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

• How does Teasdale’s use of imagery contribute to the overall atmosphere and theme of transience in “September Midnight”?
• Teasdale’s vivid imagery creates a sensory-rich portrayal of the late summer night, evoking a sense of fleeting beauty and the passage of time. For instance, in the line “Under a moon waning and worn, broken, / Tired with summer,” the image of the worn-out moon serves as a powerful symbol of the season’s exhaustion, reinforcing the theme of transition from summer to autumn. Additionally, the contrast between the “shadowy fields” and the “singing” of insects highlights the ephemeral nature of the moment, emphasizing the impermanence of summer’s vitality.
• How does the absence of traditional natural imagery, such as birdsong, contribute to the thematic depth of the poem?
• Teasdale’s deliberate omission of birdsong in favor of the “passionless chant of insects” prompts readers to reconsider conventional representations of nature and their symbolic significance. For example, the line “Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects” challenges traditional pastoral imagery associated with birds as symbols of vitality and freedom. Instead, the prevalence of insect sounds underscores a more nuanced exploration of nature’s complexity and the quieter, less romanticized aspects of the natural world.
• In what ways does Teasdale’s exploration of memory and anticipation enhance the poem’s emotional resonance? Teasdale’s reflective tone and recurring motif of remembrance imbue the poem with a sense of nostalgia and anticipation for the changing seasons. For instance, the repeated phrase “Let me remember” emphasizes the poet’s desire to hold onto the fleeting moments of late summer before the onset of winter. Furthermore, the line “Let me remember, soon will the winter be on us” foreshadows the impending transition, inviting readers to reflect on the cyclical nature of time and the inevitability of change. This juxtaposition of memory and anticipation heightens the emotional resonance of the poem, inviting readers to contemplate the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life’s experiences.

Literary Works Similar to “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

1. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost: This classic poem by Frost, like “September Midnight,” captures a moment of reflection on the natural world. Both poems use simple language to evoke a sense of peace and quiet contemplation in the face of the changing seasons.
2. “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats: This Keats masterpiece shares Teasdale’s focus on beauty and the fleeting nature of time. Both poems explore the power of sensory details to create a vivid picture and evoke an emotional response.
3. “To Autumn” by John Keats: Similar to “September Midnight,” this Keats poem celebrates the beauty of a specific season, highlighting the richness and bounty of autumn. Both poems use vivid imagery to capture the essence of the season.
4. “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth: This famous Wordsworth poem, like Teasdale’s work, finds solace and inspiration in nature. Both poems utilize imagery to capture the speaker’s emotional response to the natural world.
5. “November Back” by Edna St. Vincent Millay: This Millay poem shares the melancholic tone of “September Midnight” as it reflects on the fading beauty of summer and the inevitability of winter. Both poems capture the bittersweet feeling of transitioning seasons.

Suggested Readings: “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

• Greiner, Donna, ed. The Collected Works of Sarah Teasdale. Little, Brown and Company, 1983.
• Drake, William. Sara Teasdale, Woman & Poet. Univ. of Tennessee Press, 1989.
• https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/sara-teasdale
• Monroe, Harriet. “Sara Teasdale.” Poetry, vol. 42, no. 1, 1933, pp. 30–33. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/20578981. Accessed 4 May 2024.
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Representative Quotations “September Midnight” by Sarah Teasdale

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Concepts
“Lyric night of the lingering Indian Summer,”	The poem begins by setting the scene of a late summer night, capturing the essence of a transitional moment between seasons.	Imagery: Evokes the sensory experience of the night, setting the tone for the poem. Seasonal Symbolism: Represents the Indian Summer as a liminal period between summer and autumn.
“Never a bird, but the passionless chant of insects,”	The absence of bird sounds is noted, emphasizing the prevalence of insect noises that fill the air instead.	Juxtaposition: Contrasts the traditional imagery of birdsong with the less romanticized sounds of insects. Nature Symbolism: Highlights the significance of insect sounds in the natural environment.
“Let me remember you, voices of little insects,”	The poet expresses a desire to remember the sounds of insects, acknowledging their presence and significance in the moment.	Memory: Reflects on the importance of memory and nostalgia in capturing fleeting moments. Ecocriticism: Acknowledges the role of insects in the ecosystem and their contribution to the ambiance of the night.
“Let me remember, soon will the winter be on us, Snow-hushed and heavy.”	The impending arrival of winter is acknowledged, contrasting the current lively scene with the anticipated silence and weight of snow.	Seasonal Transition: Reflects on the cyclical nature of seasons and the inevitable passage of time. Symbolism: Winter symbolizes silence and heaviness, contrasting with the lively atmosphere of late summer.
“Over my soul murmur your mute benediction, While I gaze, O fields that rest after harvest,” “As those who part look long in the eyes they lean to, Lest they forget them.”	The poet seeks solace and blessings from the serene landscape of harvested fields, drawing a parallel to the lingering gaze of parting individuals. The need to remember is emphasized, echoing the theme of transience.	Spirituality: Conveys a sense of spiritual connection to nature and the universe. Nostalgia: Reflects on the desire to hold onto fleeting moments before they fade away. Closure: Draws parallels between human relationships and nature’s cycles.