Moon and Stars

The concepts of moon and stars as sources of light figure prominently in the poem. The first is a direct reference: “The stars go waltzing out” (Line 4). This suggests that the starlight above the speaker is leaving them behind. The reference to the moon is subtler, and used as a figurative description: “sung me moon-struck” (Line 8). The continuation of the night sky imagery suggests that the speaker’s lover brought light into the darkness of their mind. Within the context of the poem, the moon and stars symbolize the ephemeral light that fades away with the dawn.

The Thunderbird

The thunderbird is a symbol of inner strength and renewal. It is a mythological creature from Indigenous American mythology who has the power to bring storms and protect the people. In some tribal cultures, such as the Ojibwe, the thunderbird was thought to migrate in...