Night Mail is poem by Wystan Hugh Auden. The poem is explained line by line here in English as well as in Hindi along with vocabulary and poetic devices.
Click to see Notes on ‘Night Mail’ Poem.
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Poem: Night Mail
This is the night mail crossing the Border,
Bringing the cheque and the postal order,
Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,
The shop at the corner, the girl next door.
Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb:
The gradient’s against her, but she’s on time.
Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder
Shovelling white steam over her shoulder,
Snorting noisily as she passes
Silent miles of wind-bent grasses.
Birds turn their heads as she approaches,
Stare from bushes at her blank-faced coaches.
Sheep-dogs cannot turn her course;
They slumber on with paws across.
In the farm she passes no one wakes,
But a jug in a bedroom gently shakes.
Dawn freshens, Her climb is done.
Down towards Glasgow she descends,
Towards the steam tugs yelping down a glade of cranes
Towards the fields of apparatus, the furnaces
Set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen.
All Scotland waits for her:
In dark glens, beside pale-green lochs
Men long for news.
Letters of thanks, letters from banks,
Letters of joy from girl and boy,
Receipted bills and invitations
To inspect new stock or to visit relations,
And applications for situations,
And timid lovers’ declarations,
And gossip, gossip from all the nations,
News circumstantial, news financial,
Letters with holiday snaps to enlarge in,
Letters with faces scrawled on the margin,
Letters from uncles, cousins, and aunts,
Letters to Scotland from the South of France,
Letters of condolence to Highlands and Lowlands
Written on paper of every hue,
The pink, the violet, the white and the blue,
The chatty, the catty, the boring, the adoring,
The cold and official and the heart’s outpouring,
Clever, stupid, short and long,
The typed and the printed and the spelt all wrong.
Thousands are still asleep,
Dreaming of terrifying monsters
Or of friendly tea beside the band in Cranston’s or Crawford’s:
Asleep in working Glasgow, asleep in well-set Edinburgh,
Asleep in granite Aberdeen,
They continue their dreams,
But shall wake soon and hope for letters,
And none will hear the postman’s knock
Without a quickening of the heart,
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?
Night Mail Poem – Line-by-line Explanation and Analysis in English and Hindi, including Vocabulary Notes and Poetic Devices.
Stanza (Lines 1–4):
This is the night mail crossing the Border,
Bringing the cheque and the postal order,
Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,
The shop at the corner, and the girl next door.
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- This stanza tells us about the Night Mail train that is moving across the border (probably between England and Scotland).
- It is carrying important letters and money orders, meant for people from all walks of life — both rich and poor,
- for the shopkeeper at the corner and also the girl living next door.
- यह चार पंक्तियाँ एक नाइट मेल ट्रेन के बारे में हैं जो बॉर्डर पार कर रही है।
- यह ट्रेन चेक और पोस्टल ऑर्डर ला रही है, जो अमीरों और गरीबों दोनों के लिए हैं,
- यह चिट्ठियाँ किसी दुकानदार के लिए भी हो सकती हैं और बिलकुल पास रहने वाली लड़की के लिए भी।
Analysis of Poem Lines: The poet wants to show that communication (mail) connects everyone, no matter how rich or poor. Everyone waits for news, and the mail treats all people equally.
यह दिखाता है कि डाक कितनी महत्वपूर्ण है; यह हर तरह के लोगों को जोड़ती है।
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Night mail | A train that travels at night with letters and parcels (रात में चलने वाली डाक गाड़ी) |
| Cheque | A paper that promises to pay money from a bank (चेक) |
| Postal order | A way to send money by post (डाक से भेजा जाने वाला पैसा) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Repetition | “Letters for the rich, letters for the poor” – for emphasis |
| Contrast | “rich” and “poor” – shows all kinds of people are included |
| Personification | The train seems to “bring” letters like a person (human quality to a non-living thing) |
| Rhyme | AA BB (Border/order, poor/door) |
Stanza (Lines 5–6):
Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb:
The gradient’s against her, but she’s on time.
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- The Night Mail train is climbing a slope at a place called Beattock, which is a hilly area in Scotland.
नाइट मेल ट्रेन बीटक (Beattock) नाम की पहाड़ी जगह पर चढ़ाई कर रही है। - Even though the train is moving uphill (against the slope), she is not late — she is still on time.
हालांकि रास्ता चढ़ाई वाला है (ढलान उलटी है), फिर भी ट्रेन समय पर चल रही है।
Analysis of Poem Lines: The train faces challenges (like the slope) but keeps moving without delay. This shows the dedication and hard work behind the postal system — just like in life, we must keep going even when things are tough.
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Pulling up | Moving upward or climbing (ऊपर की ओर चढ़ना) |
| Beattock | A hilly area in Scotland (स्कॉटलैंड की एक पहाड़ी जगह) |
| Steady climb | A slow but continuous rise (धीरे-धीरे चढ़ाई) |
| Gradient’s against her | The slope is going upward, which makes climbing harder (ढलान उलटी दिशा में है, इसलिए चढ़ाई कठिन है) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Personification | “Her” – The train is described like a person (using “she”) |
| Contrast | The hard climb vs. the train being on time – shows strength and effort |
| Imagery | Helps us imagine a train going up a hill (दृश्य की कल्पना कर सकते हैं) |
Stanza (Lines 7–8):
Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder
Shovelling white steam over her shoulder,
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- The Night Mail train is passing by cotton-grass plants and big stones (boulders) in the open land called moorland.
नाइट मेल ट्रेन कॉटन-ग्रास (सफेद घास के फूल) और पहाड़ी इलाके के बड़े पत्थरों के पास से गुजर रही है। - As the train moves, it gives off white steam, which looks like it’s being thrown over her shoulder, like a person working hard.
ट्रेन के इंजन से सफेद भाप निकल रही है, जो ऐसा लगता है जैसे कोई अपने कंधे के ऊपर से फेंक रहा हो।
Analysis of Poem Lines: The train is shown as a strong, hardworking person, climbing through nature. The steam symbolizes energy and effort, just like a person sweating while working.
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Cotton-grass | A plant with fluffy white tops, grows in wet land (एक सफेद फूले वाला पौधा) |
| Moorland | Open, wild land with grass and stones (जंगली और खुला मैदान) |
| Boulder | A large rock (बड़ा पत्थर) |
| Shovelling | Throwing or pushing something with effort (फावड़े से फेंकना या धकेलना) |
| White steam | Steam from the train engine (इंजन से निकलती सफेद भाप) |
| Over her shoulder | Like a person throwing something behind (कंधे के ऊपर से पीछे फेंकना) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Imagery | Describes the natural scene and the steam visually (दृश्य की सुंदर कल्पना) |
| Personification | “Shovelling over her shoulder” – The train acts like a human throwing steam |
| Alliteration | “Shovelling…shoulder” – repetition of the ‘sh’ sound |
| Metaphor | The steam is compared to something being physically thrown |
Stanza (Lines 9–10):
Snorting noisily as she passes
Silent miles of wind-bent grasses.
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- As the train goes by, it makes a loud snorting sound, like a strong animal.
जब ट्रेन गुजरती है, तो वह तेज़ आवाज़ करती है, जैसे कोई जानवर सूं-सूं कर रहा हो। - It moves through quiet fields where the grass is bent by the wind.
वह चुपचाप फैले मैदानों से होकर जाती है, जहां हवा से घास झुकी हुई है।
Analysis of Poem Lines: The poet shows a contrast between the loud train and the silent nature — the train is loud and powerful, but nature around her is calm and quiet. This creates a beautiful balance between human progress (train made by man) and nature (silent miles).
Vocabulary: Words Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Snorting | Making a loud breathing sound (जोर से सांस छोड़ने की आवाज़) |
| Noisily | With a lot of sound (शोर मचाते हुए) |
| Silent miles | Long quiet distances (कई मील तक फैली चुप्पी) |
| Wind-bent grasses | Grass bent by the wind (हवा से झुकी घास) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Personification | Train is “snorting” like an animal — giving it a human/animal action |
| Imagery | Describes sound and scenery — helps imagine the scene clearly |
| Alliteration | “Snorting…silent” – repetition of ‘s’ sound |
| Contrast | Loud train vs. quiet nature – shows difference between machine and nature |
Stanza (Lines 11–12):
Sheep-dogs cannot turn her course;
They slumber on with paws across.
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- The sheep-dogs, who normally guide or stop animals, cannot stop or change the path of the Night Mail train.
शेप-डॉग्स (भेड़ों को संभालने वाले कुत्ते) ट्रेन का रास्ता नहीं बदल सकते। - They are sleeping peacefully with their paws crossed, not disturbed by the train.
वे अपने पंजों को क्रॉस करके सो रहे हैं, ट्रेन की आवाज़ से बिलकुल परेशान नहीं हैं।
Analysis of Poem Lines: This shows that the train is unstoppable and strong, and that it moves on without interference. Even the animals know it’s part of the daily routine and don’t bother or mind it.
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Sheep-dogs | Dogs that guard or guide sheep (भेड़ पालने वाले कुत्ते) |
| Turn her course | Change her path/direction (उसका रास्ता बदलना) |
| Slumber on | Continue sleeping (सोते रहना) |
| Paws across | Legs crossed while sleeping (पंजे क्रॉस करके सोना) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Personification | The train is called “her” – again treated like a person |
| Imagery | We can clearly picture the sleeping dogs and the passing train |
| Alliteration | “Paws…across” – soft repetition of the ‘p’ sound |
| Contrast | The stillness of dogs vs. the unstoppable motion of the train |
Stanza (Lines 13–14):
In the farm she passes no one wakes,
But a jug in a bedroom gently shakes.
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- As the train passes by a farmhouse, no one inside wakes up — all the people are still asleep.
जब ट्रेन एक फार्म हाउस (खेत वाला घर) के पास से गुजरती है, तो कोई भी नहीं जागता। - But the sound or vibration of the train causes a jug (pitcher) in the bedroom to shake gently.
लेकिन ट्रेन की हिलावट और आवाज़ से कमरे में रखा एक जग (पानी का बर्तन) धीरे से हिलता है।
Analysis of Poem Lines: This shows how the train, though powerful and moving fast, still creates only a small disturbance in the peaceful countryside. It adds a quiet beauty to the night.
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Farm | A place in the countryside with animals or crops (खेत या देहात का घर) |
| No one wakes | Everyone remains asleep (कोई नहीं जागता) |
| Gently shakes | Moves lightly or softly (धीरे से हिलता है) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Imagery | The image of a still farm and gently shaking jug is very visual (दृश्य कल्पना) |
| Personification | The jug is shown reacting like a living thing by shaking |
| Alliteration | “But a jug in a bedroom” ‘b’ sounds for smooth effect |
| Contrast | Quiet people sleeping vs. small movement of the jug — shows quiet power |
Stanza (Lines 15–22):
Dawn freshens, Her climb is done.
Down towards Glasgow she descends,
Towards the steam tugs yelping down a glade of cranes
Towards the fields of apparatus, the furnaces
Set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen.
All Scotland waits for her:
In dark glens, beside pale-green lochs
Men long for news.
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- “Dawn freshens, Her climb is done.”
Morning is beginning and the air is getting fresh. The train has now finished her uphill journey.
सुबह होने लगी है, और हवा ठंडी और ताज़ा हो रही है। ट्रेन की चढ़ाई अब पूरी हो चुकी है। - “Down towards Glasgow she descends,”
Now the train starts going downhill towards Glasgow, a big city in Scotland.
अब ट्रेन नीचे की ओर उतर रही है, ग्लासगो शहर की तरफ। - “Towards the steam tugs yelping down a glade of cranes”
She is going near steam boats (tugs) that make yelping (sharp barking) sounds, and they move through a valley full of cranes (machines).
वह भाप से चलने वाली नावों की तरफ बढ़ रही है, जो कुत्ते जैसी आवाजें निकालती हैं, और जो क्रेनों से भरी घाटी से गुजर रही हैं। - “Towards the fields of apparatus, the furnaces / Set on the dark plain like gigantic chessmen.”
She moves near fields full of machines and big furnaces (industrial factories), which look like huge chess pieces on a dark land.
वह मशीनों और भट्टियों (furnaces) के मैदानों की ओर जा रही है, जो अंधेरे मैदान में विशाल शतरंज की गोटियों की तरह दिखते हैं। - “All Scotland waits for her:”
The whole of Scotland is waiting for this train.
पूरा स्कॉटलैंड इस ट्रेन का इंतज़ार कर रहा है। - “In dark glens, beside pale-green lochs / Men long for news.”
In the dark valleys (glens) and near the light green lakes (lochs), people are eagerly waiting for news.
अंधेरे घाटियों और हल्के हरे झीलों के पास लोग चिट्ठियों और खबरों का बेसब्री से इंतज़ार कर रहे हैं।
Analysis of Poem Lines:
This stanza shows the train reaching its destination after a long, hardworking journey. It brings hope, connection, and information to many people across Scotland — no matter how far or remote they live. The imagery blends nature and industry beautifully.
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Dawn freshens | Morning begins; air feels fresh (सुबह ताज़ा हो रही है) |
| Descends | Goes downward (नीचे उतरना) |
| Steam tugs | Small steam-powered boats (भाप से चलने वाली छोटी नावें) |
| Yelping | Making a sharp, barking sound (भौंकने जैसी तेज़ आवाज़) |
| Glade of cranes | A clear area with many cranes (क्रेनों से भरी खुली जगह) |
| Apparatus, furnaces | Machines and burning factories (मशीनें और भट्टियाँ) |
| Gigantic chessmen | Very large chess pieces (विशाल शतरंज की गोटियाँ) |
| Glens | Narrow valleys (घाटियाँ) |
| Lochs | Lakes (in Scottish language) (झीलें) |
| Long for news | Eagerly wait for letters/information (खबरों का बेसब्री से इंतजार) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Personification | The train is called “her” and shown to be working hard, like a human |
| Imagery | Strong pictures of nature (glens, lochs) and industry (cranes, furnaces) |
| Simile | “Like gigantic chessmen” – compares furnaces to big chess pieces |
| Alliteration | “Fields of furnaces” – repetition of ‘f’ sound |
| Contrast | Natural beauty (glens, lochs) vs. industrial land (cranes, furnaces) |
| Anaphora | ‘Towards’ – repeated in the beginning of the 3rd and 4th lines |
| Enjambment | many lines have moved to next lines without punctuations |
Stanza (Lines 23–40):
Letters of thanks, letters from banks,
Letters of joy from girl and boy,
Receipted bills and invitations
To inspect new stock or to visit relations,
And applications for situations,
And timid lovers’ declarations,
And gossip, gossip from all the nations,
News circumstantial, news financial,
Letters with holiday snaps to enlarge in,
Letters with faces scrawled on the margin,
Letters from uncles, cousins, and aunts,
Letters to Scotland from the South of France,
Letters of condolence to Highlands and Lowlands
Written on paper of every hue,
The pink, the violet, the white and the blue,
The chatty, the catty, the boring, the adoring,
The cold and official and the heart’s outpouring,
Clever, stupid, short and long,
The typed and the printed and the spelt all wrong.
Explanation (English + Hindi):
This stanza lists many types of letters carried by the Night Mail train.
There are:
- Letters of thanks and from banks – चिट्ठियाँ जो आभार व्यक्त करती हैं या बैंकों से आती हैं
- Happy letters from children – बच्चों की खुशी भरी चिट्ठियाँ
- Bills and invitations – बिल और निमंत्रण
- Job applications and love letters – नौकरी के लिए आवेदन और प्रेम प्रस्ताव
- Gossip and news from different countries – दुनियाभर की गपशप और खबरें
- Holiday photos, faces drawn in margins – छुट्टियों की तस्वीरें, किनारों पर बनाए गए चेहरे
- Family letters from relatives – चाचा-चाची, मामा-मामी की चिट्ठियाँ
- Letters of sympathy – शोक-संवेदना की चिट्ठियाँ
- Letters written on paper of all colours – गुलाबी, बैंगनी, सफेद और नीले कागजों पर लिखी चिट्ठियाँ
- Different types of tones – कुछ चिट्ठियाँ प्यारी, कुछ गुस्से वाली, कुछ रोचक तो कुछ उबाऊ
- Neatly typed or messily written ones – कुछ टाइप की हुई और कुछ गलत वर्तनी के साथ लिखी गईं
Analysis of Poem Lines:
The poet shows that letters are powerful. They carry feelings, emotions, news, and connections between people. No matter how they look or where they’re from, each letter is important to someone.
यह stanza दिखाता है कि चिट्ठियाँ लोगों को जोड़ती हैं, और उनके अंदर भावनाएँ और रिश्ते छुपे होते हैं।
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Receipted bills | Bills with receipts (रसीद वाले बिल) |
| Applications for situations | Job applications (नौकरी के आवेदन) |
| Declarations | Statements of love or feelings (भावनाएँ जताने वाली चिट्ठियाँ) |
| Circumstantial/financial news | News based on details or money (विवरण या वित्त से जुड़ी खबरें) |
| Scrawled on the margin | Scribbled writing on the edge of paper (किनारे पर लिखा गया) |
| Condolence | Sympathy or sadness messages (शोक संवेदना) |
| Hue | Colour (रंग) & tone or mood |
| Chatty, catty, adoring | Friendly, mean, or loving tone (बातूनी, तंज वाली, प्यार भरी) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Repetition/Anaphora | “Letters of…” and “Letters with…” repeated for rhythm and effect |
| Alliteration | “Girl and boy”, “Holiday snaps” – soft and smooth sounds |
| Imagery | Visual details of coloured papers, faces on margins, typed or messy letters (दृश्य कल्पना) |
| Contrast | Different types of letters – emotional vs official, short vs long, correct vs incorrect |
| Rhyme | Many rhyming pairs: thanks/banks, boy/joy, hue/blue – creates musical rhythm |
| Enumeration (Listing) | Long list of letter types adds richness and shows variety (चिट्ठियों की विविधता) |
Stanza (Lines 41–43):
Thousands are still asleep,
Dreaming of terrifying monsters
Or of friendly tea beside the band in Cranston’s or Crawford’s:
Explanation (English + Hindi):
- “Thousands are still asleep,”
At this early hour of morning, thousands of people are still sleeping.
इस सुबह के समय में हजारों लोग अभी भी सो रहे हैं। - “Dreaming of terrifying monsters”
Some are having scary dreams about monsters.
कुछ लोग डरावने सपने देख रहे हैं — जैसे भयानक राक्षसों के। - “Or of friendly tea beside the band in Cranston’s or Crawford’s”
Others are dreaming of happy times, like having tea with friends, where a band is playing music at places like Cranston’s or Crawford’s (popular tea shops or restaurants in Scotland).
कुछ लोग खुशियों भरे सपने देख रहे हैं — जैसे कि किसी रेस्तरां में दोस्तों के साथ चाय पीना, जहाँ बैंड संगीत बजा रहा हो, जैसे Cranston’s या Crawford’s में।
Analysis of Poem Lines:
This stanza shows the contrast between people’s dreams — some are fearful, while others are comforting and joyful. It reminds us that while we sleep, the world keeps moving — the Night Mail continues its journey, bringing reality while we dream.
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Terrifying monsters | Very scary creatures (डरावने राक्षस) |
| Friendly tea | A nice time having tea with others (मिलकर चाय पीने का सुखद समय) |
| Band | A group playing music (बैंड, संगीत बजाने वाला समूह) |
| Cranston’s / Crawford’s | Popular tea rooms or restaurants in Scotland (स्कॉटलैंड के रेस्तरां) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Imagery | Dreams of monsters and tea with music create clear mental pictures |
| Contrast | Terrifying vs. friendly dreams – shows the variety in people’s sleep states |
| Alliteration | “beside the band” – soft repetition of ‘b’ sound |
| Enjambment | The lines flow into each other without pause, continuing the thought |
Stanza (Lines 44–50):
Asleep in working Glasgow, asleep in well-set Edinburgh,
Asleep in granite Aberdeen,
They continue their dreams,
But shall wake soon and hope for letters,
And none will hear the postman’s knock
Without a quickening of the heart,
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?
Explanation (English + Hindi):
People are still asleep in big cities like:
- Glasgow (a working, industrial city)
- Edinburgh (a well-organised, cultural city)
- Aberdeen (a city made of grey granite stone)
लोग अब भी सो रहे हैं, चाहे वो कामकाजी ग्लासगो में हों, सज-संवरे एडिनबरा में हों, या पत्थरों वाले एबरडीन में।
- They are still dreaming,
वे अब भी सपनों में खोए हुए हैं, - But soon they will wake up, and the first thing many will hope for is a letter.
लेकिन वे जल्द ही उठेंगे, और बहुत से लोग डाकिया द्वारा लाई गई चिट्ठियों का इंतजार करेंगे। - When the postman knocks, no one will stay calm — everyone feels a little excitement in their heart.
जब डाकिया दरवाजा खटखटाता है, तो हर किसी के दिल की धड़कन तेज़ हो जाती है। - Because no one wants to be forgotten — letters make people feel remembered and loved.
क्योंकि कोई नहीं चाहता कि उसे भुला दिया जाए, चिट्ठियाँ लोगों को याद और अपनापन महसूस कराती हैं।
Analysis of Poem Lines:
This ending tells us how important communication is. The hope for a letter shows our human need for connection, love, and remembrance. The poem finishes by reminding us that everyone wants to feel remembered.
Vocabulary: Word Meanings:
| Word/Phrase | Meaning (English + Hindi) |
|---|---|
| Working Glasgow | Industrial, working-class city (कामकाजी शहर ग्लासगो) |
| Well-set Edinburgh | Well-planned and cultured city (व्यवस्थित और सुंदर एडिनबरा) |
| Granite Aberdeen | City known for grey stone buildings (पत्थरों से बना एबरडीन शहर) |
| Postman’s knock | Sound of the postman knocking the door (डाकिए की दस्तक) |
| Quickening of the heart | A small jump or excitement in the heart (दिल की धड़कन तेज़ होना) |
| Forgotten | Being left out or not remembered (भुला दिया जाना) |
Poetic Devices:
| Device | Example / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Repetition/Anaphora | “Asleep in…” is repeated to show calmness and unity among cities |
| Imagery | Cities, dreams, postman’s knock – all create strong visuals (दृश्य कल्पना) |
| Alliteration | “feel himself forgotten” – repetition of sound ‘f’ |
| Consonance | For who can bear to feel himself forgotten – Consonant ‘f’ is prominent |
| Personification | Heart is shown as reacting (quickening), letters as giving hope |
| Rhetorical Question | “For who can bear to feel himself forgotten?” – asked to make us feel the emotion |
This beautiful ending shows how the Night Mail connects people across the country, and how something as simple as a letter can touch the heart.