Wild Nights Wild Nights

The repetition of “Wild nights” (Line 1) indicates the theme of frenzied feelings. “Wild” means disorder or a lack of control, and night is a common time for many secret, illicit, or stimulating activities, from drinking to partying to sex.

The first word after the repetition of “wild nights” is “Were” (Line 2), and the modal verb represents possibility. The speaker’s poem centers on what would happen if they were with the addressee. The speaker isn’t physically with them, but the possibility produces tumult, and the potential frenzy allures them.

The theme somewhat modifies the erotic genre, turning the poem into an erotic fantasy. The addressee is absent, allowing the speaker to imagine the chaotic passion stirred up by their presence. Arguably, what excites the speaker isn’t the addressee but the construct of them. The speaker turns the addressee into a receptacle for their zealous emotions, and the frenzied portrait, not the addressee, is the primary draw. At the same, the addressee isn’t disposable. They still matter—they must exist to receive the volatile feelings. Yet their absence allows for exaggeration. If they were present, the speaker might be less exuberant.

Through the frenzied state, the speaker creates a rollicking sea adventure.