Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star: what the full poem means

I feel like my world got turned upside down today.

Remember the song you learned a long time ago, “Twinkle, Twinkle,_Little_Star, how I wonder what you, up above the sky so high, like a diamond in the sky.” This is a lullaby that mostly describes our childhood and maybe, one we will sing to our children. This lullaby has been there for centuries and will be there for more generations to come. However, most people do not know that it is a poem that goes beyond the one stanza we sing out so proud, what I found astonishing is the possible meaning of this infamous lullaby. But mostly, if a lot of generations have slept on the meaning of the whole poem. Here is the full poem:

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
How could he see where to go,
If you did not twinkle so?

In the dark blue sky you keep,
Often through my curtains peep
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark
Lights the traveler in the dark,
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

By Jane Taylor (1806)

The poem was originally titled ‘The Star’ and was published in 1806 in a children’s book Rhymes of the Nursery. The lyrics have were then used by composers such as Mozart while others made a few changes to the lyrics.

Now, go back and read the poem again.

Today, a friend shared with me that he thought the poem had a bigger meaning than just about a shining star in the sky. In his words,

“It is more like wondering what being with someone you like would be like” – Kenneth Namalomba

This had me thinking and made me reread the poem 5 more times before I started relating to his words. So let me break down how I understood the poem.

In life, we always have those people that are always in the shadows. They mostly seem irrelevant until when we face troubles, that’s when we tend to fall to them for comfort. This is the same as stars, they will always shine at night after a sunny day but their light is way less than that of the sun.

These people never truly leave our sight because they care about our wellbeing ( Often through my curtains peep, For you never shut your eye).

We never know what their intentions are nor their feelings towards us and we never care to know or find out (Though I know not what you are, Twinkle Twinkle little star).

We came to an agreement that this poem was hinting at unrequited love and desire. But, this is just our opinion.

What do you think the full poem could mean? Comment below 👇