'Elegy' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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Let them bury your big eyes
In the secret earth securely,
Your thin fingers, and your fair,
Soft, indefinite-colored hair,—
All of these in some way, surely,
From the secret earth shall rise;
Not for these I sit and stare,
Broken and bereft completely;
Your young flesh that sat so neatly
On your little bones will sweetly
Blossom in the air.

But your voice,—never the rushing
Of a river underground,
Not the rising of the wind
In the trees before the rain,
Not the woodcock's watery call,
Not the note the white-throat utters,
Not the feet of children pushing
Yellow leaves along the gutters
In the blue and bitter fall,
Shall content my musing mind
For the beauty of that sound
That in no new way at all
Ever will be heard again.

Sweetly through the sappy stalk
Of the vigorous weed,
Holding all it held before,
Cherished by the faithful sun,
On and on eternally
Shall your altered fluid run,
Bud and bloom and go to seed;
But your singing days are done;
But the music of your talk
Never shall the chemistry
Of the secret earth restore.
All your lovely words are spoken.
Once the ivory box is broken,
Beats the golden bird no more.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Elegy: A Masterpiece of Poetic Grief and Resilience

Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Elegy" is a poem that speaks to the human heart in a way that few others can. It is a masterpiece of poetic grief and resilience that captures the complexities of loss and the enduring power of love. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and historical context that make "Elegy" a timeless work of art.

A Brief Overview of the Poem

"Elegy" is a twelve-stanza poem that was first published in 1935, two years after the death of Millay's husband, Eugen Boissevain. The poem is written in iambic pentameter and a traditional elegiac form, with a rhyming scheme of ABABCC. Each stanza consists of six lines, with the last two lines forming a couplet. The poem is narrated by the speaker, who is mourning the loss of a loved one and contemplating the meaning of life and death.

The Themes of "Elegy"

One of the central themes of "Elegy" is the inevitability of loss and the pain that comes with it. The speaker is grappling with the reality of death and the finality of goodbye. She asks, "What is this world? What asketh men to have?" (line 7) and wonders if there is any meaning to the suffering that is a part of the human experience. However, the poem is not solely focused on despair. It also speaks to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love. The speaker acknowledges that even though her loved one is gone, their memory and the love they shared will always be with her. In the final couplet, she declares, "The heart grieves not for that which changeth not" (line 72), suggesting that even though death is a part of life, love is eternal.

Literary Devices in "Elegy"

Millay employs a variety of literary devices to create a powerful and evocative poem. One of the most striking is her use of figurative language, particularly imagery and metaphor. For example, in stanza two, she writes, "The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees / And fall" (lines 9-10). This image of leaves breaking free from the trees is a metaphor for the speaker's own sense of detachment from the world after her loss. Similarly, in stanza three, Millay uses the metaphor of a ship sailing away to express the finality of goodbye: "The ship that hath a thousand sails / Still waits the wind and tarries" (lines 15-16).

Another notable literary device in "Elegy" is Millay's use of repetition. Throughout the poem, she repeats the phrase "I am not resigned" (lines 2, 8, 14, 20, 26, 32, 38, 44, 50, 56, and 62). This repetition emphasizes the speaker's struggle to accept her loss and underscores the emotional intensity of the poem.

Finally, Millay's use of rhyme and meter contributes to the poem's musicality and emotional impact. The iambic pentameter gives the poem a rhythmic quality that is almost like a heartbeat, while the ABABCC rhyme scheme creates a sense of resolution and closure at the end of each stanza.

The Historical Context of "Elegy"

To fully appreciate the power and significance of "Elegy," it is important to understand the historical context in which it was written. Millay composed the poem in the aftermath of the Great Depression and during a time of political and social upheaval. The world was changing rapidly, and many people were struggling to find meaning and purpose in their lives.

At the same time, Millay was grappling with personal loss. Her husband, Eugen Boissevain, had died suddenly in 1933, leaving her devastated. "Elegy" was her way of coping with this loss and trying to make sense of a world that seemed to have lost its meaning. The poem is a testament to the human capacity for resilience in the face of tragedy, as well as a celebration of the enduring power of love.

Conclusion

In "Elegy," Edna St. Vincent Millay has created a masterpiece of poetic grief and resilience. Through her use of figurative language, repetition, and rhyme, she has crafted a poem that speaks to the human heart in a way that few others can. The themes of loss, love, and resilience are as relevant today as they were when the poem was first written, and "Elegy" remains a testament to the enduring power of art to capture the complexities of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elegy, written by Edna St. Vincent Millay, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and poignant piece of literature that captures the essence of grief and loss. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the speaker mourning the loss of a loved one. The opening lines, "What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why, / I have forgotten, and what arms have lain / Under my head till morning; but the rain / Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh," set the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is haunted by memories of past lovers, and the rain serves as a metaphor for the ghosts of these past relationships.

The theme of loss and grief is prevalent throughout the poem. The speaker laments the passing of time and the loss of youth and beauty. She says, "I cannot say what loves have come and gone, / I only know that summer sang in me / A little while, that in me sings no more." The use of the word "sang" is significant here, as it implies that the speaker's youth and beauty were once a source of joy and music in her life, but now they are gone.

The imagery used in the poem is also noteworthy. The rain, as mentioned earlier, is a recurring motif that symbolizes the speaker's grief and the ghosts of her past. The use of the word "ghosts" is particularly effective, as it implies that the memories of past lovers are haunting the speaker. The imagery of the "wind in the trees" and the "moon on the crest of the new-fallen snow" also adds to the melancholic tone of the poem.

The language used in Elegy is simple yet powerful. The repetition of the phrase "I have forgotten" in the first stanza emphasizes the speaker's inability to remember the details of her past relationships. The use of the word "ghosts" and the phrase "the dead leaves rustle" in the second stanza create a sense of eeriness and foreboding. The use of the word "sang" in the third stanza, as mentioned earlier, is a beautiful and poetic way of describing the speaker's lost youth and beauty.

One of the most striking aspects of Elegy is the way in which it captures the universal experience of loss and grief. The speaker's lamentations are not specific to any one person or situation, but rather they speak to the human condition. We have all experienced loss and the passing of time, and this poem captures that feeling in a way that is both beautiful and relatable.

In conclusion, Elegy is a classic poem that has stood the test of time for good reason. Its themes of loss and grief, its haunting imagery, and its powerful language all contribute to its enduring appeal. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience, and it is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

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