Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Serenade from “the Spanish Student”

Serenade from “the Spanish Student” - form Summary

A Serenade as Vigil

This short lyric is built as a literal serenade: the speaker addresses elements of a summer night—stars, moon, wind, dreams—urging them to hush or descend so the beloved may sleep undisturbed. Its repeated refrain, simple imperatives, and cyclical stanza structure create a lullaby-like vigil, emphasizing protective love and stillness rather than plot or argument. The poem’s calm rhythm and direct apostrophes turn nature into gentle guardians of sleep.

Read Complete Analyses

STARS of the summer night! Far in yon azure deeps, Hide, hide your golden light! She sleeps! My lady sleeps! Sleeps! Moon of the summer night! Far down yon western steeps, Sink, sink in silver light! She sleeps! My lady sleeps! Sleeps! Wind of the summer night! Where yonder woodbine creeps, Fold, fold thy pinions light! She sleeps! My lady sleeps! Sleeps! Dreams of the summer night! Tell her, her lover keeps Watch! while in slumbers light She sleeps! My lady sleeps! Sleeps!

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