The unpurged images of day recede; The Emperor's drunken soldiery are abed; Night resonance recedes, night-walkers' song After great cathedral gong.
William Butler YeatsRead
When I breathe,_x000D_ This sound in my chest_x000D_ Lonelier than the winter wind
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses profound loneliness through the metaphor of breath and sound, comparing it to the coldness of winter.
In this quote, Takuboku Ishikawa uses the imagery of breathing and a sound within the chest to convey a deep sense of isolation and melancholy. The comparison to the winter wind emphasizes the harshness of this experience, suggesting a solitude that feels cold and unwelcoming, much like the winter season itself. It captures the emotional weight of feeling alone and the heavy silence that can accompany such feelings.
Themes
LonelinessBreathWinterSoundSolitude
In practice
Example use cases
In a poetry reading, to illustrate the theme of loneliness.
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