'Nocturnall Upon St. Lucies Day' Summary

In “A Nocturnall Upon St. Lucies Day”, the speaker mourns the loss of his beloved and reflects on the nature of love, time, and mortality. The poem begins with the speaker lamenting the darkness of the winter solstice, likening it to the darkness of his heart. The speaker’s pain is evident throughout, as he describes himself as a “dark, and long, dead, winter night.” However, the poem is not simply a lament; it is also a meditation on the nature of love and the passage of time. The speaker acknowledges that love is a powerful force that can illuminate even the darkest of times. He also reflects on the inevitability of death, acknowledging that “the sunne is gone to bed.” The speaker's voice is both melancholy and hopeful. While he expresses a profound sense of loss, there is also a sense of acceptance and even resilience. The final lines of the poem suggest that the speaker has found a way to move forward with his life, even in the face of grief and sorrow.