“Wild Nights—Wild Nights!” by Emily Dickinson

Wild Nights—Wild Nights!: Emily Dickinson’s Poem Featured in Podcast

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A reading of Emily Dickinson’s poem “Wild Nights—Wild Nights!” has been featured in a recent episode of a literary podcast produced by The American Scholar.

The poem, which explores themes of longing, passion, and the sea, was read by Amanda Holmes, a contributor to the podcast. The episode, titled “Wild Nights—Wild Nights!”, is part of the publication’s ongoing series that invites readers to submit suggestions for poems by deceased writers.

According to the podcast’s description, listeners can email their suggestions to podcast@theamericanscholar.org. If selected, the contributor will receive a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman.

The episode was produced by Stephanie Bastek, the associate editor of The American Scholar. It also features the song “Canvasback” by Chad Crouch.

Emily Dickinson’s “Wild Nights—Wild Nights!” is a short but evocative poem that reads:

Wild Nights—Wild Nights!
Were I with thee
Wild Nights should be
Our luxury!

Futile—the Winds—
To a Heart in port—
Done with the Compass—
Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden—
Ah, the Sea!
Might I but moor—Tonight—
In Thee!

The poem, written in Dickinson’s characteristic style, uses nautical imagery to explore the speaker’s longing for a lover. The winds, compass, and chart are all symbols of the journey and uncertainty that the speaker has left behind in favor of a more passionate, albeit potentially risky, course.

The American Scholar’s podcast series aims to promote the appreciation of poetry and literature. It offers a platform for listeners to engage with the written word and discover new poems and poets.

The episode featuring “Wild Nights—Wild Nights!” is available for streaming on The American Scholar’s website and podcast platforms. The publication invites listeners to submit their suggestions for future episodes, fostering a community of poetry enthusiasts and promoting the appreciation of literary works by deceased writers.