'To A Poet That Died Young' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Minstrel, what have you to do
With this man that, after you,
Sharing not your happy fate,
Sat as England's Laureate?
Vainly, in these iron days,
Strives the poet in your praise,
Minstrel, by whose singing side
Beauty walked, until you died.
Still, though none should hark again,
Drones the blue-fly in the pane,
Thickly crusts the blackest moss,
Blows the rose its musk across,
Floats the boat that is forgot
None the less to Camelot.
Many a bard's untimely death
Lends unto his verses breath;
Here's a song was never sung:
Growing old is dying young.
Minstrel, what is this to you:
That a man you never knew,
When your grave was far and green,
Sat and gossipped with a queen?
Thalia knows how rare a thing
Is it, to grow old and sing;
When a brown and tepid tide
Closes in on every side.
Who shall say if Shelley's gold
Had withstood it to grow old?
Editor 1 Interpretation
"To A Poet That Died Young" by Edna St. Vincent Millay: A Tribute to the Power of Poetry
I recently came across a poem that left me in a state of wonder and amazement. The poem is titled "To A Poet That Died Young" by Edna St. Vincent Millay, and it is a tribute to a young poet who passed away at an early age. What struck me the most about this poem is the way Millay celebrates the power of poetry and the way it can immortalize a person's spirit long after their physical body has perished.
The Poem:
Before I delve into the themes of the poem, let me first provide a brief overview of the poem itself. "To A Poet That Died Young" is a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. In this particular sonnet, Millay addresses the deceased poet directly, using the second person point of view. The poem is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a sestet (six-line stanza) with a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDCDCD.
The first quatrain sets the scene, describing the poet's resting place as a "green hill." Millay imagines the poet lying there, "among the sheep," surrounded by nature. In the second quatrain, Millay addresses the poet directly, asking him if he can hear her as she speaks to him. She describes the poet's youth and beauty, and how his death has left her heartbroken.
The sestet is where Millay truly shines, as she celebrates the power of poetry and how it can keep a person's spirit alive even after they are gone. She says that while the poet's body may no longer be with us, his "singing" will live on forever. She imagines the poet's words being read by future generations and how they will be moved by his words. She ends the poem with a powerful couplet, saying that while the poet has passed away, his words will remain immortal:
"Dead poet, I salute thee, and thy art, And bid thy gentle spirit rest in peace."
The Themes:
Now that we have a basic understanding of the poem, let's dive deeper into the themes that Millay explores. The first theme that I noticed was the theme of nature. Millay describes the poet's resting place as a "green hill" and imagines him lying there "among the sheep." By placing the poet in nature, Millay is emphasizing the poet's connection to the natural world. It also creates a sense of peace and tranquility, as if the poet is at one with the earth.
The second theme that I noticed was the theme of youth and beauty. Millay describes the poet as "young and fair," emphasizing his youth and beauty. By doing so, she is highlighting the tragedy of his death at such a young age. It also serves to create a sense of nostalgia for the reader, as we are reminded of our own youth and the fleeting nature of life.
The third and most prominent theme is the power of poetry. Millay celebrates the poet's "singing" and how it will live on forever. By using the metaphor of singing, Millay is emphasizing the musical quality of poetry and how it can resonate with people on a deep emotional level. She imagines the poet's words being read by future generations, showing how poetry can transcend time and space. It is a testament to the power of art to keep a person's spirit alive long after they are gone.
Interpretation:
So, what does all of this mean? What is Millay trying to say with this poem? I believe that Millay is trying to show that while death may claim our physical bodies, our spirit can live on through the power of art. By celebrating the poet's "singing," Millay is showing how poetry can keep a person's spirit alive long after they are gone. It is a reminder that while we may be mortal, our art can be immortal.
In a broader sense, I believe that Millay is also making a statement about the power of art in general. Art has the ability to transcend time and space, to cross cultural and linguistic barriers, and to touch people on a deep emotional level. It is a testament to our humanity, to our ability to create and to express ourselves. And while we may not all be poets or artists, we all have the ability to appreciate and be moved by art.
Final Thoughts:
In conclusion, "To A Poet That Died Young" is a beautiful tribute to the power of poetry and the way it can immortalize a person's spirit long after their physical body has perished. Millay's celebration of the poet's "singing" is a reminder of the power of art to transcend time and space, and to touch people on a deep emotional level. It is a reminder that while we may be mortal, our art can be immortal. And for that reason, I believe that this poem will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To A Poet That Died Young: An Analysis of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Classic Poem
Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a poignant and moving poem titled "To A Poet That Died Young." The poem is a tribute to a young poet who died before his time, and it is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the power of poetry to transcend death. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with a powerful and evocative image: "I cannot make you understand. / I cannot make anyone understand / What is happening inside me." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, which is characterized by a sense of frustration and longing. The speaker is struggling to express the depth of her emotions, and she recognizes that words are inadequate to capture the fullness of her experience. This sense of ineffability is a recurring theme in Millay's poetry, and it reflects her belief in the limitations of language as a tool for expressing the complexities of human experience.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the young poet who is the subject of the tribute. The speaker describes him as "a boy with a bird-like voice," which suggests his youth and innocence. The image of the bird also connotes freedom and flight, which are themes that recur throughout the poem. The speaker goes on to describe the young poet's talent and his ability to capture the beauty of the natural world in his poetry. She notes that his work was characterized by a sense of wonder and awe, which suggests that he had a deep appreciation for the mysteries of life.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful and emotional. The speaker reflects on the young poet's untimely death and expresses her grief and sadness. She notes that he died before he had a chance to fully realize his potential as a poet, and she laments the loss of his talent and his voice. The image of the "broken bird" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the young poet's life was cut short before he had a chance to soar.
The fourth stanza of the poem shifts the focus from the young poet to the speaker herself. She reflects on her own mortality and the inevitability of death. She notes that she too will one day die, and that her own voice will be silenced. This realization fills her with a sense of urgency and a desire to make the most of her time on earth. The image of the "flying bird" is used once again to suggest the fleeting nature of life and the importance of living fully in the present moment.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the power of poetry to transcend death. The speaker notes that even though the young poet is gone, his words live on. She suggests that his poetry has the power to inspire and uplift others, and that it will continue to do so long after his death. The final image of the "flying bird" is used once again to suggest that the young poet's spirit lives on, and that his poetry has the power to lift us up and carry us beyond the limitations of our mortal existence.
In terms of structure, the poem is composed of five stanzas, each with four lines. The use of quatrains gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance, which is appropriate given the theme of the poem. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a musical quality and helps to reinforce the sense of unity and coherence.
In terms of language, the poem is characterized by its simplicity and directness. Millay's use of plain language and simple imagery helps to convey the emotional intensity of the poem without resorting to sentimentality or melodrama. The use of repetition, particularly the repetition of the image of the flying bird, helps to reinforce the central themes of the poem and gives it a sense of unity and coherence.
In conclusion, "To A Poet That Died Young" is a powerful and moving tribute to a young poet who died before his time. The poem is a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the power of poetry to transcend death. Through its use of simple language and imagery, the poem conveys a sense of emotional intensity and urgency that is both poignant and inspiring. Millay's poem reminds us of the importance of living fully in the present moment and of the enduring power of poetry to inspire and uplift us long after we are gone.
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