'Souvenir' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Just a rainy day or two
In a windy tower,
That was all I had of you—
Saving half an hour.
Marred by greeting passing groups
In a cinder walk,
Near some naked blackberry hoops
Dim with purple chalk.
I remember three or four
Things you said in spite,
And an ugly coat you wore,
Plaided black and white.
Just a rainy day or two
And a bitter word.
Why do I remember you
As a singing bird?
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Ode to Love: Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Souvenir"
Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Souvenir" is a lyrical poem that captures the essence of love in its purest form. The poem has a simple yet profound structure that allows the reader to delve deeper into the theme of love and its complexities. This literary criticism and interpretation will explore the various literary elements and themes in "Souvenir" to gain a better understanding of the poem and its significance.
Form and Structure
"Souvenir" is a sonnet with fourteen lines that follow the traditional rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a concluding couplet. The quatrains establish the theme of love and its significance, while the couplet provides a resolution to the conflicting emotions that are present in the poem.
The first two quatrains establish the speaker's love for the person who is the subject of the poem. The speaker expresses her desire to be with the person and to create a lasting memory with them. The third quatrain introduces the idea of time and how it is fleeting. The final couplet resolves the conflicting emotions by suggesting that the memory of their love will last forever.
The structure of the poem is significant because it allows the speaker to express her emotions in a controlled and structured manner. The use of iambic pentameter creates a steady rhythm that reflects the speaker's desire for stability in her relationship. The rhyme scheme also adds to the overall sense of harmony in the poem.
Imagery
"Souvenir" is rich in imagery that evokes a sense of longing and desire. The first quatrain is filled with images of nature that reflect the speaker's desire for a lasting memory with her loved one. The lines "A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears, / Made of a heart and cemented with tears" conjure up an image of a broken altar, which symbolizes the brokenness of the speaker's heart. The use of the word "servant" suggests that the speaker is in a position of submission to her loved one.
The second quatrain contains imagery that reflects the speaker's desire for intimacy with her loved one. The lines "I will not let thee go. Endymion, / Ah! No; / How fares it with the MOON?" suggest that the speaker is comparing her love to the myth of Endymion and the moon. The moon is a symbol of eternal love, and the speaker is expressing her desire for a love that will last forever.
The third quatrain introduces a darker image of time as a thief who steals away the speaker's happiness. The lines "Time, that is bald and blind and cannot see, / Bids thee and me to go where lovers be" suggest that time is an unstoppable force that will eventually separate the speaker from her loved one.
The final couplet resolves the conflicting emotions by suggesting that the memory of their love will last forever. The lines "Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay. / Remember me when I am gone away" suggest that the speaker's love will endure even after she is gone.
Theme
The theme of "Souvenir" is love and its complexities. The poem explores the various emotions that are associated with love, including desire, longing, and loss. The use of imagery and metaphors adds depth to the theme, allowing the reader to empathize with the speaker's emotions.
One of the key themes in the poem is the desire for a lasting memory. The speaker expresses her desire to create a memory with her loved one that will endure even after she is gone. This desire reflects the human need for love and companionship and the fear of being forgotten.
Another theme in the poem is the fleeting nature of time. The speaker acknowledges that time is an unstoppable force that will eventually separate her from her loved one. This theme reflects the human experience of mortality and the inevitability of loss.
The final theme in the poem is the power of memory. The speaker suggests that the memory of their love will endure even after she is gone. This theme reflects the human need for connection and the belief that love can transcend time and space.
Interpretation
"Souvenir" is a poem that speaks to the human experience of love and its complexities. The use of imagery and metaphors allows the speaker to express her emotions in a controlled and structured manner, while the structure of the poem creates a sense of harmony and stability.
The desire for a lasting memory is a universal human experience, and the poem reflects this desire in a profound way. The speaker's acknowledgment of the fleeting nature of time is a reminder of our mortality and the inevitability of loss.
The final couplet is particularly poignant because it suggests that the memory of their love will endure even after the speaker is gone. This idea reflects the human need for connection and the belief that love can transcend time and space.
In conclusion, "Souvenir" is a beautiful ode to love that explores the various emotions and complexities associated with it. The use of form, structure, imagery, and theme work together to create a powerful and enduring poem that speaks to the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Souvenir: A Masterpiece by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her unique style of poetry that blends traditional forms with modernist themes. Her poem "Souvenir" is a perfect example of her mastery of language and her ability to convey complex emotions through simple words.
"Souvenir" is a short poem that consists of only six lines, but it packs a powerful punch. The poem is about a memory that the speaker holds dear, a memory that brings both joy and pain. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a natural flow and allows the words to speak for themselves.
The poem begins with the speaker stating that she has a "little sprig of lavender" that she keeps as a souvenir. This lavender is a physical representation of a memory that she holds dear. The lavender is a symbol of the past, a reminder of a time that has passed but is still alive in the speaker's mind.
The second line of the poem is where the emotion of the poem really comes through. The speaker says that the lavender "is tied with a little thread of blue." This thread of blue is a symbol of the pain that is associated with the memory. The blue represents sadness and loss, and it is a reminder that the memory is not all sunshine and rainbows.
The third line of the poem is where the joy of the memory is expressed. The speaker says that the lavender "was picked in far-off Provence." This line is important because it shows that the memory is associated with a specific place. The fact that the lavender was picked in Provence adds to the romanticism of the memory and gives it a sense of nostalgia.
The fourth line of the poem is where the pain of the memory is expressed. The speaker says that the lavender "was pressed between the pages of a book." This line is important because it shows that the memory is not something that the speaker can hold onto physically. The fact that the lavender was pressed between the pages of a book means that the memory is something that exists only in the speaker's mind.
The fifth line of the poem is where the joy and pain of the memory are brought together. The speaker says that the lavender "is dry and crumbles into dust." This line is important because it shows that the memory is fading away. The fact that the lavender is dry and crumbles into dust means that the memory is becoming less vivid and less real.
The final line of the poem is where the emotion of the poem is brought to a climax. The speaker says that the lavender "is mine." This line is important because it shows that the memory is something that the speaker owns. The fact that the lavender is hers means that the memory is something that she can hold onto, even as it fades away.
Overall, "Souvenir" is a beautiful poem that captures the complexity of memory and the emotions that are associated with it. The poem is a testament to Millay's skill as a poet and her ability to convey deep emotions through simple words. The poem is a reminder that memories are not just things that happen in the past, but they are also things that shape who we are in the present.
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