The poem paints a vivid picture of a train journey through the countryside, with the rhythmic beat of the tracks acting as a heartbeat. In the first stanza, the speaker focuses on the rhythmic "clicking of the wheels" as the train cuts through the silent countryside. The train whistle adds to this rhythmic cacophony, becoming an eerie "shrill scream." This sound is in stark contrast to the serene beauty of the landscape, with its peaceful fields and moon-kissed pastures.
The second and third stanzas focus on the train's passage through the small stations and the lives of those waiting there. The speaker captures the fleeting moments of connection between the passing passengers and the waiting figures. The lights in the windows of the train and the station reveal the human experiences within, from solitude to hurriedness. The speaker observes passengers reading, gazing at the moon, and reflecting on their lives, presenting a microcosm of the spectrum of human emotions and activities.
The final stanza brings the journey to a close, with the train gliding to a halt at the speaker's destination. The "rush of the quiet," a sudden burst of silence after the rhythmic sounds of the journey, is a stark change. The speaker alights under a "cold pale moon," suggesting that the journey has taken them into a different world, far from the noisy tracks and stations they have just left behind.
In terms of literary devices, the poem is rich in imagery and personification. The train wheels "click like a heart" and the whistle screams "shrill." The moon is described as "cold and pale," and the train stations are like "sleeping dogs." Johansnes also uses contrast effectively to highlight the disparity between the peaceful countryside and the noisy train, as well as the stillness of the final station compared to the journey's commotion.
Overall, "Night Train" is a sensory-rich portrayal of a train journey that explores themes of rhythm and contrasts, while weaving human experiences into the tapestry of the countryside.