Meeting at Night Text

POETRY : ROBERT BROWNING [1812-1889]

Meeting at Night : Text

Full Text with Important Word-notes

Meeting at Night : Robert Browning [1812-1889]

The grey sea and the long black land;

And the yellow half-moon large and low;

And the startled little waves that leap

In fiery ringlets from their sleep,

As I gain the cove with pushing prow,

And quench its speed i’ the slushy sand.

Then a mile of warm sea-scented beach;

Three fields to cross till a farm appears;

A tap at the pane, the quick sharp scratch

And blue spurt of a lighted match,

And a voice less loud, thro’ its joys and fears,

Than the two hearts beating each to each!

——————

Important Word-notes

Stanza I

startled (v. p. of startle) : alarm suddenly

waves (n. pl. of wave) : sea-waves

leap (v.) : jump, spring

fiery (adj.) : containing fire, flaming, blazing 

ringlets (n. pl. of ringlet) : small circled rings, long curled locks

gain (v.) : reach, achieve 

cove (n.) : small bay

pushing (participle adj.) : pressing forward 

prow (n.) : the front part of a boat or a ship 

quench (v.) : satisfy, here slow down 

slushy (adj.) : slightly muddy

Stanza II

sea-scented (participle adj.) : having a perfume of sea 

beach (n.) : sea-shore, sea-side

cross (v.) : pass over, travel across

farm (n.) : farmhouse

appears (v.) : comes into view 

tap (n.) : light blow, gentle knock

pane (n.) : window pane 

quick (adj.) : fast, rapid

sharp (adj.) : shrill, keen 

scratch (n.) : marking sound

spurt (n.) : outpouring

lighted (participle adj.) : lit, kindled 

match (n.) : small combustible stick designed for lighting, matchstick 

less (adj.) : smaller in amount 

beating (v. Present Participle of ‘beat’) : striking, hitting