The Film
Kate Northrop
Kate Northrop
Northrop studied at the University of Pennsylvania, and she currently teaches at the University of Wyoming. Northrop has published three books of poetry: Back Through Interruption (2002), Things are Disappearing Here (2007), and Clean (2011). Her works are critically acclaimed, and she was a finalist for the Academy of American Poets' James Laughlin Award. She also is a contributing editor for The American Poetry Review.
The Film
Come, let’s go in.
The ticket-taker
has shyly grinned
and it’s almost time,
Lovely One.
Let’s go in.
The wind tonight’s too wild.
The sky too deep,
too thin. Already it’s time.
The lights have dimmed.
Come, Loveliest.
Let’s go in
and know these bodies
we do not have to own, passing
quietly as dreams, as snow.
Already leaves are falling
and music begins.
Lovely One,
it’s time.
Let’s go in.
Interpretation
On the surface, this poem may seem like a simple description of going to see a new film at the theater. However, the author may be connecting the excitement of going to see a new film with the excitement of beginning a new relationship with someone. The author repeats the phrase, "let's go in"; and while it may seem like it means "let's go into the theater", it may metaphorically mean "let's go in on a relationship together", or some other translation of that same idea. This is supported by the excited, anxious mood the author creates when she uses phrases like "The wind tonight's too wild. The sky too deep, too thin. Already it's time". This phrase could translate to something like, "It's a perfect time to start a relationship". That phrase also creates an anxious mood, which is similar to waiting for a new movie to start or beginning a new relationship with someone.
Theme
The theme, as mentioned above, could be that starting a new relationship is similar to going to see a new film.
The Film By Kate Northrop
The Film By Kate Northrop 0001