'Portrait By A Neighbour' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Before she has her floor swept
Or her dishes done,
Any day you'll find her
A-sunning in the sun!
It's long after midnight
Her key's in the lock,
And you never see her chimney smoke
Til past ten o'clock!
She digs in her garden
With a shovel and a spoon,
She weeds her lazy lettuce
By the light of the moon,
She walks up the walk
Like a woman in a dream,
She forgets she borrowed butter
Any pays you back in cream!
Her lawn looks like a meadow,
And if she mows the place
She leaves the clover standing
And the Queen Anne's lace!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Portrait By A Neighbour: A Deeper Look
Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most noted American poets of the early 20th century, is known for her poignant and insightful poetry. Her works often explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition, and Portrait By A Neighbour is no exception.
The Poem
Portrait By A Neighbour is a short poem with only three stanzas, each consisting of four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. Here is the poem in full:
Before she has her floor swept
Or her dishes done,
Any day you'll find her
A-sunning in the sun!
It's long after midnight
Her key's in the lock,
And you'll never see her chimney smoke
Till past ten o'clock!
She digs in her garden
With a shovel and a spoon,
She weeds her lazy lettuce
By the light of the moon.
On the surface, the poem seems almost whimsical, describing the daily routine of a woman who enjoys spending time outdoors and tending to her garden. However, a closer analysis reveals deeper themes at play.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted as a commentary on societal expectations and the constraints they place on individuals. The woman in the poem defies these expectations by living life on her own terms, ignoring societal norms and expectations.
The first stanza introduces the woman as someone who enjoys spending time in the sun, even before completing her daily chores. This highlights her carefree and unconventional nature. The second stanza further emphasizes her disregard for societal norms, as she returns home late at night and keeps unusual hours.
The third stanza is particularly noteworthy, as it describes the woman tending to her garden by the light of the moon. This can be interpreted as a symbol of the woman's willingness to embrace the unconventional and live outside the confines of societal norms. The use of the word "lazy" to describe the lettuce further emphasizes the woman's disregard for society's expectations of productivity and efficiency.
Overall, the poem can be seen as a call to embrace individuality and to celebrate those who choose to live outside the constraints of societal expectations.
Literary Criticism
From a literary standpoint, Portrait By A Neighbour is a well-crafted poem that uses subtle language and imagery to convey complex themes. The simple ABAB rhyme scheme and short stanzas lend a lighthearted feel to the poem, which stands in contrast to the deeper messages conveyed.
The use of imagery is particularly effective in conveying the themes of the poem. The image of the woman tending to her garden by the light of the moon is a powerful symbol of her willingness to embrace the unconventional. The fact that she uses a shovel and a spoon to tend to her garden also emphasizes her resourcefulness and self-sufficiency.
The poem's use of language is also noteworthy. The use of the word "lazy" to describe the lettuce is unusual and unexpected, but it effectively conveys the woman's disregard for societal expectations of productivity.
In terms of structure, the poem's brevity is a strength. The short stanzas and simple rhyme scheme make the poem easy to read and understand, while the deeper themes at play make it thought-provoking and impactful.
Conclusion
Portrait By A Neighbour is a well-crafted poem that uses subtle language and imagery to convey complex themes. It serves as a commentary on societal expectations and the individual's willingness to embrace the unconventional. The poem's brevity and simple structure make it easy to read, while its deeper messages make it thought-provoking and impactful. Overall, it is an excellent example of Millay's insightful and poignant poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Portrait By A Neighbour: An Analysis of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Classic Poem
Edna St. Vincent Millay was a prolific poet who wrote about love, loss, and the beauty of nature. Her poem, Portrait By A Neighbour, is a classic example of her work, and it is a beautiful and poignant piece that captures the essence of human emotion. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This allows Millay to express herself freely and to create a natural flow of words that reflects the emotions she is trying to convey. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct theme and imagery.
The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the subject of the poem, a woman who is being observed by her neighbor. The neighbor is looking at the woman through a window, and he is struck by her beauty and grace. Millay uses vivid imagery to describe the woman, saying that she is "like a lily in bloom" and that her hair is "like a golden cloud." These descriptions create a sense of ethereal beauty and suggest that the woman is almost otherworldly in her appearance.
The second stanza shifts the focus from the woman to the neighbor who is observing her. Millay describes the neighbor's feelings of longing and desire, saying that he wishes he could be with the woman and that he is "envious of the air that touches her." This imagery creates a sense of yearning and suggests that the neighbor is deeply attracted to the woman.
The third and final stanza brings the poem to a close and reveals its true meaning. Millay describes the woman as being "like a flame" and suggests that her beauty is fleeting and temporary. She then goes on to say that the neighbor's desire for the woman is also temporary and that it will eventually fade away. This final stanza is a powerful reminder of the transience of human emotion and the fleeting nature of beauty.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of beauty and its impermanence. Millay uses vivid imagery to describe the woman's appearance, but she also suggests that this beauty is fleeting and temporary. This theme is reinforced by the final stanza, which reminds us that even the strongest emotions and desires are temporary and will eventually fade away.
Another important theme of the poem is the idea of desire and longing. The neighbor is deeply attracted to the woman, and he longs to be with her. This theme is explored in the second stanza, where Millay describes the neighbor's feelings of envy and desire. This theme is also related to the idea of beauty and its impermanence, as the neighbor's desire for the woman is also temporary and will eventually fade away.
The language used in the poem is simple and direct, but it is also rich in imagery and metaphor. Millay uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of beauty and longing, and she uses metaphor to suggest deeper meanings. For example, the woman is described as being "like a flame," which suggests that her beauty is both intense and fleeting. This metaphor also suggests that the neighbor's desire for the woman is like a flame, burning brightly but eventually burning out.
In conclusion, Portrait By A Neighbour is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of beauty, desire, and impermanence. Millay's use of vivid imagery and metaphor creates a sense of ethereal beauty and longing, while her simple and direct language reminds us of the transience of human emotion. This poem is a classic example of Millay's work, and it is a testament to her skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of human emotion in her writing.
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