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
