why do you stay up so late

The sonnet by Don Paterson draws on themes of the past and of the beauty of the night time. He breaks the sonnet into two stanzas: one directed towards the listener and one in first person. The poem responds to some person’s question about why the narrator stays up at night. The speaker and listener obviously have a history together, as seen in the phrase, “remember that day you lost two years ago.” Describing dull stones that rarely blink with a dazzling color, the narrator compares those rocks to the night. He writes that some objects appear lifeless in the light of day and they need to cover of life to arouse themselves. Sometimes the blanket of night serves as not a hindrance but an opportunity. The narrator sees things which hide out in the day time.

The separation of the poem into two parts ties into the theme of duality weaved into the poem. There is the contrast of day and night and dark and light. The emotions that Paterson relates to the symbols of day and night are somewhat inverted. The night represents enlightenment, allowing moments of gleaming glory to shine through.

Paterson also utilizes the form of the sonnet to succinctly tell his story. The sonnet revolves around steadfast ideas like day and night. The sonnet reflects this constant nature with its uniform lines and structured form.

A poem based on memory, “Why Do You Stay Up So Late,” not only answers a question, but addresses a time that everyone experiences. He illuminates the beauty of night and that everything my not be as it seems.