The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!

So here is my interpretations, as much as it is worth: Seems to be the common interpretations that first part of this is an adult thinking back on his childhood, and that the child is really young, I think that not too many years have passed. I think that the narrator is still young, and is writing in their diary at night, in bed. Everyone assumes this is a girl, because of the leg warmers... which I ind odd, as surly one wouldn't put it past Sufjan Stevens to wear leg warmers in his teens in the 80's right? He is not the most manly of men. Another reason I think he is young, is that he makes a point of stating he is "writing in cursive" - most adults write in cursive without thinking about it.

I think when he thinks he sees the "wasp with her wings outstretched" he is just about falling asleep. The wasp might not even be there - he might just be slipping into a dream.

The reason why he might be dreaming of a wasp? Because at some point - either recently or earlier in his life - his friend was bitten by a wasp and Sufjan (or character) associates this with the end of his friendship/early romance.

He is on camp or away camping with his friend - someone there is old enough to drive, so I think this is a story of early teens. Perhaps "brother" came along, and this is why Sufjan is "wearing my brother's red hat"

Brother is not around, however as Sufjan and his best friend are swimming. Best friend is "bit seven times" on his shoulder. Sufjan takes a look at the sting and "Touching his back with my hand, I kiss him" - kisses the kid on the shoulder. Or perhaps on the face (as someone else pointed out "He runs washing his face in his hands" indicated the kid may have been kissed on the cheek or lips and ran away to wash it off because he feels embarrassed or grossed out).

Sufjan is worried about it now, as he really didn't think about his friends reaction before he kissed him: "Oh, how I meant to tease him, Oh, how I meant no harm" and as he is standing there feeling embarrassed and worried, the wasp lands on his arm too.

I feel like when they sing: "Trail of Tears and Horseshoe Lake... Trusting things beyond mistake" kinda portrays the sense of panic-stricken regret a kid would feel when they do something they cant take back.

I think when he sings: "We were in love, we were in love, I can wait, I can wait" it is Sufjan trying to tell himself it'll all be okay. He honestly believed the feeling was mutual, when it clearly wasn't, given that the friend ran away.

However, they are out in the middle of nowhere, and they have to spend the night together sleeping in the car. Sufjan stays awake all night frettting over what will happen, and when he sings "admiration in falling asleep" he is refering to the callas way the other kidjust falls asleep, possbily without acknowleging what happened. Whereas Sufjan is laying there thinking about the "state of my heart, he was my best friend." He WAS is best friend... not anymore. Its all over.

After that they are both stung - the kid by the wasp and Sufjan by the kid: "Terrible sting and terrible storm."

They are no longer friends, perhaps the kid moved away or just stopped talking to Sufjan after that: "My friend is gone, he ran away."

However, even despite all this, Sufjan lays in bed, thinking that perhaps things may go back to the way they were before this incident: "Though we have sparred, wrestled and raged. I can tell you, I love him each day." After having time to think it over, he perhaps has started to feel like he has another to apologise for, and that if the kid ever wants to be friends again then he would be waiting for him.

Anyway... this seems pretty clear to me. If you take it for what it is. I might be wrong about the whole thing, but when you think of it like a story it seems plausible and rather lovely. I remember when i was a kid a friend of mine made a move on me... and i just freaked out completely! I wouldn't talk to that friend anymore we were of the same sex, but I was only 10 years old, so I am not sure that was the issue. I was just too young to have given any thought whatsoever to love and kissing.

I imagine I am not the only kid who had this experience. This is why i like this song. I wish i could go back and tell that kid who tried to kiss me that its okay, we can go back to being friends again.