This Moment: Plot

“This Moment”: Plot

Setting the scene: The poem begins with a detailed description of a suburban neighbourhood in the evening.
The mundane and the magical: The speaker discusses ordinary sights such as houses with lit rooms and moths hitting the window, yet inserts an element of the extraordinary by hinting at a mysterious presence or force.
Juxtaposition of activities: Inside homes, children are being put to bed yet defiant stars outside continue to unfold.
Intense summary of a moment: The poem culminates in the realisation that this moment of quietude is being shared by numerous people, therefore highlighting the simultaneous singularity and universality of experiences.

Collective human experience: The plot presents the different but simultaneous experiences of various individuals living in the same neighbourhood, thus building on the theme of shared humanity.
The magic in ordinary moments: By focusing attention on a singular moment, the poem captures the extraordinary aspects of what might otherwise be considered mundane or commonplace.
Temporal focus: The plot’s progression revolves around the notion of a single, captured moment, thus emphasising the transience and immediacy of the present.
Hidden presence in the everyday: The literal events of the poem hint at the presence of a mysterious, unseen force or entity, suggesting a dimension of wonder within the fabric of daily life.