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'Burial' by Edna St. Vincent Millay


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Mine is a body that should die at sea!
And have for a grave, instead of a grave
Six feet deep and the length of me,
All the water that is under the wave!
And terrible fishes to seize my flesh,
Such as a living man might fear,
And eat me while I am firm and fresh,—
Not wait till I've been dead for a year!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Burial by Edna St. Vincent Millay: A Reflective Interpretation

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed with emotions after reading a literary piece? This is what happened to me after reading Edna St. Vincent Millay's Burial. The poem, written in 1920, is a masterpiece that leaves readers reflecting on the themes of love, death, and loss. As a literary critic, I couldn't wait to share my interpretation of this iconic poem.

Overview of the Poem

Burial is a lyrical poem that follows a speaker who is mourning the loss of a loved one. Using vivid imagery and poetic devices, Millay explores the speaker's grief and how it affects her. The poem is divided into five stanzas, with each stanza having four lines. Each line has a different syllable count, with the first and third lines having eight syllables, while the second and fourth lines have six syllables.

The poem's title, Burial, sets the tone for the entire piece. It hints at the theme of death and reflects on the speaker's mourning process. The poem's language is simple and unadorned, yet it conveys deep emotions that are both personal and universal.

Themes

What makes Burial a timeless poem is its ability to capture the essence of universal themes that are relatable to all. The poem touches on the themes of love, death, and loss.

Love

Love is the central theme of the poem. The speaker's grief is a reflection of the love she had for the deceased. The poem shows that love transcends death and that it is a powerful emotion that cannot be easily forgotten. The line "Love is not all," in the second stanza, shows that although love is important, it cannot bring back the dead. However, love has the power to give comfort to the grieving, and this is reflected in the line, "But oh, the agitated heart of me!"

Death

Death is an inevitable reality that we all have to face. The poem shows that death is a painful experience that leaves a void that cannot be filled. The line "I shall not hear the nightingale sing on, as if in pain" reflects the finality of death and how it takes away the beauty of life. The poem also shows that death is a reminder of our own mortality and that one day we too will face it.

Loss

The poem reflects on the theme of loss, which is a common human experience. The poem shows that the speaker's loss is not only personal but also universal. The line, "Nor will there be a moon in the blue cave of the sky" reflects the emptiness and loneliness that comes with loss. The poem also shows that the speaker's loss has changed her and that she will never be the same again.

Poetic Devices

Millay's use of poetic devices enhances the beauty and emotional impact of the poem. Here are some of the poetic devices used in the poem.

Metaphor

The poem makes use of metaphors to create vivid imagery that reflects the speaker's emotions. The line "Nor will there be a moon in the blue cave of the sky" is a metaphor that reflects the emptiness and darkness that comes with loss.

Alliteration

The poem makes use of alliteration to create a musical quality that enhances the poem's emotional impact. The line "The rain will make a door for me and I shall pass through" is an example of alliteration.

Imagery

The poem makes use of imagery to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. The line "The rain will make a door for me and I shall pass through" creates an image of the speaker passing through a door created by the rain.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Burial is a timeless masterpiece that explores universal themes that are relatable to all. Millay's use of poetic devices and vivid imagery creates a beautiful and emotional piece that leaves readers reflecting on the themes of love, death, and loss. The poem reminds us that death is inevitable and that it is important to cherish the love we have for those around us. The poem's simplicity and beauty make it a work of art that will continue to touch people's lives for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Burial by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the themes of death, grief, and the human experience. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker describing the burial of a loved one. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker describes the scene in a somber and mournful tone. The first stanza reads:

"Nobody will believe my verse in time Cry, cry, the shadows trail him yet He was my north, my south, my east, my west My working week and my Sunday rest"

These lines are a powerful introduction to the poem, as they immediately establish the speaker's grief and the depth of their loss. The repetition of the word "cry" emphasizes the speaker's sadness and the fact that they are unable to find solace in their writing. The line "He was my north, my south, my east, my west" is a beautiful metaphor that conveys the idea that the loved one was the speaker's entire world. The final line, "My working week and my Sunday rest," is a poignant reminder that the loved one was a constant presence in the speaker's life, and their absence has left a void that cannot be filled.

The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the burial itself. The speaker describes the scene in vivid detail, painting a picture of a solemn and mournful occasion. The stanza reads:

"Love, love, my heart is sore Cry, cry, for evermore Goodbye, goodbye, the sun is falling Darkness, darkness, my heart is calling"

These lines are filled with emotion and convey the speaker's sense of loss and despair. The repetition of the words "love" and "cry" emphasizes the speaker's grief and the fact that they are unable to find comfort in their sorrow. The line "Goodbye, goodbye, the sun is falling" is a powerful metaphor that conveys the idea that the loved one's death is like the setting of the sun, marking the end of a life and the beginning of a new darkness. The final line, "Darkness, darkness, my heart is calling," is a haunting reminder that the speaker's grief is all-consuming and that they are unable to escape it.

The third stanza of the poem is a turning point, as the speaker begins to question the nature of death and the afterlife. The stanza reads:

"Death, death, my heart is numb Cry, cry, for the days to come Gone, gone, the love we shared Lost, lost, the soul that cared"

These lines are filled with a sense of confusion and uncertainty, as the speaker grapples with the idea of death and what comes after. The repetition of the words "death" and "cry" emphasizes the speaker's sense of loss and the fact that they are unable to find comfort in their grief. The line "Gone, gone, the love we shared" is a poignant reminder that the loved one is truly gone and that the speaker will never be able to share their love with them again. The final line, "Lost, lost, the soul that cared," is a powerful reminder that the loved one was more than just a physical presence in the speaker's life, but a soul that cared deeply for them.

The fourth and final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the speaker's own mortality and the inevitability of death. The stanza reads:

"Life, life, I know not why Cry, cry, for an end to come Love, love, I know not how Cry, cry, for an end to now"

These lines are filled with a sense of resignation and acceptance, as the speaker acknowledges the fact that death is a part of life and that it will come for them eventually. The repetition of the words "life" and "cry" emphasizes the speaker's sense of inevitability and the fact that they are unable to escape their own mortality. The line "Love, love, I know not how" is a poignant reminder that love is a mystery that cannot be fully understood, but that it is a powerful force that can transcend death. The final line, "Cry, cry, for an end to now," is a powerful reminder that the speaker's grief is all-consuming and that they long for an end to their pain.

In terms of structure, Burial is a four-stanza poem with a consistent rhyme scheme of ABCB. This structure gives the poem a sense of unity and coherence, as each stanza builds on the previous one to create a powerful and emotional narrative. The use of repetition throughout the poem also adds to its emotional impact, as it emphasizes the speaker's sense of loss and the depth of their grief.

In terms of literary devices, Burial is filled with powerful metaphors and imagery that convey the speaker's emotions and the themes of the poem. The metaphor of the loved one as the speaker's "north, south, east, and west" is a powerful image that conveys the idea that the loved one was the speaker's entire world. The metaphor of death as the setting of the sun is also a powerful image that conveys the idea that death marks the end of a life and the beginning of a new darkness. The repetition of the words "cry" and "love" throughout the poem emphasizes the speaker's emotions and the fact that they are unable to find solace in their grief.

In conclusion, Burial by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the themes of death, grief, and the human experience. Through its vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and consistent structure, the poem conveys the depth of the speaker's loss and the inevitability of death. It is a timeless piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today, and it is a testament to Millay's skill as a poet.

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