In my craft or sullen art
-- The Speaker (Line 1)

Importance: The speaker repeats the title of the poem in the first line as the overall context. At this point, the reader does not yet know what type of art or craft the speaker refers to. The coordinating conjunction "or" places equal value on the words "art" and "craft" and presents them as alternatives.

Exercised in the still nightWhen only the moon rages
-- The Speaker (Lines 2-3)

Importance: Here, the speaker states that he only engages in his creative process at night in solitude. The word "still" indicates the general lack of action as most everyone else sleeps. That the moon "rages" signifies passion and intense energy.

And the lovers lie abedWith all their griefs in their arms,
-- The Speaker (Lines 4-5)

Importance: Here, the speaker intertwines the experiences of love and grief. Since the lovers lie together in bed, the word "griefs" could indicate the possibility of losing the other (5). Thomas wrote this poem...