Bruno K. Öijer’s poem ”En natt som den här” (A Night Like This) paints a stark and unsettling portrait of loneliness and alienation in a world perceived as both sick and insane. The poem repeatedly underscores the theme of isolation, emphasizing the individual’s struggle against an overwhelming sense of detachment, even in a world populated by others. This loneliness isn’t merely a physical state but a deep existential one, a profound disconnect from meaning and connection in a world marred by violence and decay.
The poem opens with a direct address to an unnamed ”you,” drawing the reader into the intimate space of a sleepless night. This ”you” becomes a universal figure, representing not only the poet himself but also any individual grappling with the anxieties and uncertainties of existence. The sleepless vigil by the lamplight becomes a symbol of the restless search for understanding, a desperate attempt to decipher the unsettling messages of the external world. The darkness outside the window is a canvas onto which the individual projects their fears and anxieties, transforming ordinary sights like snow on rooftops into potential threats, symbolized by the ”approaching man with clenched fists.” This external darkness mirrors the internal turmoil, the sense of being besieged by unseen forces.
The poem’s imagery consistently emphasizes vulnerability and decay. The ”injured bird falling asleep on its sheet of wind” evokes a sense of fragility and impending demise. The world itself is depicted as wounded and ravaged, with ”the future already feeling violated and abandoned to its fate.” The image of ”black yarn unrolling” and the earth being shovelled onto spilled blood, yet not enough to cover it, speaks to the relentless and inescapable nature of suffering and violence. This imagery underscores the pervasive sense of hopelessness and the inability to find solace or escape from the world’s pain.
The poem contrasts the vastness of human connection with its superficiality. The speaker observes that while some might have ”a thousand friends,” they lack genuine, trustworthy relationships. This highlights the paradox of modern existence, where social connections often fail to provide true intimacy or support. Forgotten love letters, gasping for air in a drawer too difficult to open, symbolize the lost opportunities for connection and the emotional burdens we carry. The desire for separation, driven by ”bodies that have collected dust,” further underscores the difficulty of maintaining meaningful relationships amidst the relentless passage of time.
The poem shifts to a nostalgic recollection of childhood, a time of innocence and wonder. The image of a child weaving a hawk feather into their hair and stringing strawberries on a blade of grass contrasts sharply with the bleakness of the present. The whimsical notion of ”sunbeams wearing tattered shoes” and turning back during rainy days suggests a child’s imaginative capacity to find beauty and meaning in the mundane. This flashback serves to highlight the loss of innocence and the growing awareness of the world’s harsh realities that comes with age.
The poem concludes with a sense of resignation and a yearning for escape. The act of extinguishing the lamp and surrendering to the darkness represents a giving up of the struggle to understand or control the external world. The open window becomes a portal to the realm of dreams and the possibility of finding solace in the unconscious. The journey in sleep to a place where ”wild horses play and care for their foals” evokes a sense of freedom and natural harmony. The image of ”moonlight laying down its flashing sword in the coal-black river” signifies a laying down of arms, a relinquishing of the fight against the darkness. The poem ends with the faintest glimmer of hope, with ”life itself gently smiling,” a suggestion that even in a world riddled with pain and despair, there remains a persistent yearning for connection, for belonging, for a return to a sense of wholeness and peace. This ”life” that has been ”hammering and banging against heaven and earth” seeks admittance, longing to finally ”come home,” suggesting a deep-seated desire for peace and acceptance in the face of a chaotic and often unforgiving world.
