'The Blue-Flag In The Bog' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
God had called us, and we came;
Our loved Earth to ashes left;
Heaven was a neighbor's house,
Open to us, bereft.Gay the lights of Heaven showed,
And 'twas God who walked ahead;
Yet I wept along the road,
Wanting my own house instead.Wept unseen, unheeded cried,
"All you things my eyes have kissed,
Fare you well! We meet no more,
Lovely, lovely tattered mist!Weary wings that rise and fall
All day long above the fire!"-
Red with heat was every wall,
Rough with heat was every wire-"Fare you well, you little winds
That the flying embers chase!
Fare you well, you shuddering day,
With your hands before your face!And, ah, blackened by strange blight,
Or to a false sun unfurled,
Now forevermore goodbye,
All the gardens in the world!On the windless hills of Heaven,
That I have no wish to see,
White, eternal lilies stand,
By a lake of ebony.But the Earth forevermore
Is a place where nothing grows,-
Dawn will come, and no bud break;
Evening, and no blossom close.Spring will come, and wander slow
Over an indifferent land,
Stand beside an empty creek,
Hold a dead seed in her hand."God had called us, and we came,
But the blessed road I trod
Was a bitter road to me,
And at heart I questioned God."Though in Heaven," I said, "be all
That the heart would most desire,
Held Earth naught save souls of sinners
Worth the saving from a fire?Withered grass,-the wasted growing!
Aimless ache of laden boughs!"
Little things God had forgotten
Called me, from my burning house."Though in Heaven," I said, "be all
That the eye could ask to see,
All the things I ever knew
Are this blaze in back of me.""Though in Heaven," I said, "be all
That the ear could think to lack,
All the things I ever knew
Are this roaring at my back."It was God who walked ahead,
Like a shepherd to the fold;
In his footsteps fared the weak,
And the weary and the old,Glad enough of gladness over,
Ready for the peace to be,-
But a thing God had forgotten
Was the growing bones of me.And I drew a bit apart,
And I lagged a bit behind,
And I thought on Peace Eternal,
Lest He look into my mind:And I gazed upon the sky,
And I thought of Heavenly Rest,-
And I slipped away like water
Through the fingers of the blest!All their eyes were fixed on Glory,
Not a glance brushed over me;
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Up the road,-and I was free.And my heart rose like a freshet,
And it swept me on before,
Giddy as a whirling stick,
Till I felt the earth once more.All the earth was charred and black,
Fire had swept from pole to pole;
And the bottom of the sea
Was as brittle as a bowl;And the timbered mountain-top
Was as naked as a skull,-
Nothing left, nothing left,
Of the Earth so beautiful!"Earth," I said, "how can I leave you?"
"You are all I have," I said;
"What is left to take my mind up,
Living always, and you dead?""Speak!" I said, "Oh, tell me something!
Make a sign that I can see!
For a keepsake! To keep always!
Quick!-before God misses me!"And I listened for a voice;-
But my heart was all I heard;
Not a screech-owl, not a loon,
Not a tree-toad said a word.And I waited for a sign;-
Coals and cinders, nothing more;
And a little cloud of smoke
Floating on a valley floor.And I peered into the smoke
Till it rotted, like a fog:-
There, encompassed round by fire,
Stood a blue-flag in a bog!Little flames came wading out,
Straining, straining towards its stem,
But it was so blue and tall
That it scorned to think of them!Red and thirsty were their tongues,
As the tongues of wolves must be,
But it was so blue and tall-
Oh, I laughed, I cried, to see!All my heart became a tear,
All my soul became a tower,
Never loved I anything
As I loved that tall blue flower!It was all the little boats
That had ever sailed the sea,
It was all the little books
That had gone to school with me;On its roots like iron claws
Rearing up so blue and tall,-
It was all the gallant Earth
With its back against a wall!In a breath, ere I had breathed,-
Oh, I laughed, I cried, to see!-
I was kneeling at its side,
And it leaned its head on me!Crumbling stones and sliding sand
Is the road to Heaven now;
Icy at my straining knees
Drags the awful under-tow;Soon but stepping-stones of dust
Will the road to Heaven be,-
Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Reach a hand and rescue me!"There-there, my blue-flag flower;
Hush-hush-go to sleep;
That is only God you hear,
Counting up His folded sheep!Lullabye-lullabye-
That is only God that calls,
Missing me, seeking me,
Ere the road to nothing falls!He will set His mighty feet
Firmly on the sliding sand;
Like a little frightened bird
I will creep into His hand;I will tell Him all my grief,
I will tell Him all my sin;
He will give me half His robe
For a cloak to wrap you in.Lullabye-lullabye-"
Rocks the burnt-out planet free!-
Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Reach a hand and rescue me!Ah, the voice of love at last!
Lo, at last the face of light!
And the whole of His white robe
For a cloak against the night!And upon my heart asleep
All the things I ever knew!-
"Holds Heaven not some cranny, Lord,
For a flower so tall and blue?"All's well and all's well!
Gay the lights of Heaven show!
In some moist and Heavenly place
We will set it out to grow.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Blue-Flag In The Bog: A Masterpiece of Symbolism and Imagery by Edna St. Vincent Millay
When it comes to poetry, there are few names that stand out as much as Edna St. Vincent Millay. She was a pioneer in the world of modernist poetry, pushing boundaries with her use of language and imagery. One of her most famous poems, "The Blue-Flag In The Bog," is a prime example of her talent.
Overview and Summary
"The Blue-Flag In The Bog" is a poem about the beauty of nature and the fleeting moments of life. The speaker is walking through a bog and comes across a blue-flag flower. The flower is described in detail, with its delicate petals and vibrant color. However, the speaker realizes that the flower will soon wither and die, just like all things in life. The poem ends on a note of acceptance, with the speaker acknowledging the beauty of the flower despite its transience.
Symbolism and Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of "The Blue-Flag In The Bog" is its use of symbolism and imagery. Millay uses the blue-flag flower as a symbol for the fleeting beauty of life. The flower is described as "bright" and "lovely," but the speaker knows that it will not last long. This can be seen as a metaphor for life itself, which is beautiful but ultimately short-lived.
The bog also serves as a symbol for the unknown and mysterious aspects of life. Bogs are often associated with darkness and danger, and the speaker notes that she is "afraid" as she walks through it. However, the bog is also described as "lush" and "green," suggesting that there is beauty to be found in even the darkest places.
Millay's use of imagery is also noteworthy. The blue-flag flower is described in vivid detail, with its "petals of delicate skin" and "deep blue" color. The bog is described as "the great black bog" and the speaker notes the "tangled roots" of the plants around her. These images create a sense of atmosphere and give the reader a vivid mental picture of the setting.
Style and Form
"The Blue-Flag In The Bog" is written in free verse, which allows Millay to experiment with the structure and rhythm of the poem. The lines vary in length, with some being as short as one word and others stretching on for several lines. This gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and movement, as if the speaker is wandering through the bog and describing what she sees as she goes.
Millay's use of language is also noteworthy. She uses simple, direct language to describe the flower and the bog, but there are also moments of poetic and evocative language. For example, she describes the blue-flag's petals as "delicate skin," which creates a sense of intimacy and tenderness.
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, "The Blue-Flag In The Bog" is a poem about the beauty and transience of life. The blue-flag flower serves as a metaphor for all things in life that are beautiful but ultimately fleeting. The bog, with its darkness and danger, represents the unknown aspects of life that we fear but can also find beauty in.
However, there is also a sense of acceptance and even joy in the poem. The speaker acknowledges that the blue-flag will soon die, but she still takes pleasure in its beauty. This can be seen as a reminder to enjoy the present moment and find beauty in the world around us, even if we know that it won't last forever.
Conclusion
"The Blue-Flag In The Bog" is a stunning example of Edna St. Vincent Millay's talent for language and imagery. Through her use of vivid descriptions and poetic language, she creates a sense of atmosphere and intimacy that draws the reader into the poem. The themes of transience and acceptance are universal and timeless, making this poem as relevant today as it was when it was first written. Overall, "The Blue-Flag In The Bog" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that deserves to be celebrated and studied for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Blue-Flag In The Bog: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a beautiful poem titled "The Blue-Flag In The Bog." This poem is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the essence of nature and the beauty of life. In this article, we will analyze and explain this classic poem in detail.
The poem begins with a description of a blue-flag flower growing in a bog. The blue-flag is a beautiful flower that grows in wetlands and is known for its vibrant blue color. The poet describes the flower as "a blue mist in the bog," which creates a vivid image in the reader's mind. The use of the word "mist" is particularly interesting as it suggests that the flower is not just a physical object but also has a mystical quality to it.
The second stanza of the poem describes the surroundings of the blue-flag. The poet talks about the "mosses and marshes" that surround the flower. This description creates a sense of serenity and peace, as if the blue-flag is the only source of beauty in an otherwise dull and dreary landscape. The use of alliteration in this stanza, with the repetition of the "m" sound, adds to the musicality of the poem.
In the third stanza, the poet talks about the "little pool" that surrounds the blue-flag. This pool is described as "still" and "deep," which creates a sense of calmness and tranquility. The poet then goes on to describe the reflection of the blue-flag in the pool, which creates a beautiful image of the flower being mirrored in the water. The use of imagery in this stanza is particularly effective as it creates a sense of harmony between the flower and its surroundings.
The fourth stanza of the poem is where the tone of the poem changes. The poet talks about the "silly fly" that lands on the blue-flag and disturbs its peace. This stanza is interesting as it introduces an element of conflict into the poem. The fly is described as "silly," which suggests that it is not a serious threat to the flower. However, the fact that it is disturbing the peace of the blue-flag creates a sense of tension in the poem.
The fifth stanza of the poem is where the conflict between the blue-flag and the fly is resolved. The poet describes how the blue-flag "shook its head" and the fly flew away. This stanza is interesting as it shows the power of nature to protect itself. The blue-flag is not a passive object but an active participant in its environment. The use of personification in this stanza, with the blue-flag shaking its head, adds to the sense of agency that the flower possesses.
The final stanza of the poem is where the poet reflects on the beauty of the blue-flag. The poet describes how the flower is "lovely" and "rare," which suggests that it is something to be cherished and appreciated. The use of the word "rare" is particularly interesting as it suggests that the blue-flag is not something that can be easily found. The poet then goes on to describe how the blue-flag is a symbol of hope and beauty in an otherwise bleak world.
Overall, "The Blue-Flag In The Bog" is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of nature and the beauty of life. The poem is full of vivid imagery, musicality, and a sense of harmony between the flower and its surroundings. The conflict between the blue-flag and the fly adds an element of tension to the poem, while the resolution of the conflict shows the power of nature to protect itself. The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful as it reflects on the beauty of the blue-flag and its significance in the world. This poem is a true masterpiece of poetry and a testament to the talent of Edna St. Vincent Millay.
Editor Recommended Sites
Learn Rust: Learn the rust programming language, course by an Ex-Google engineerData Integration - Record linkage and entity resolution & Realtime session merging: Connect all your datasources across databases, streaming, and realtime sources
GCP Tools: Tooling for GCP / Google Cloud platform, third party githubs that save the most time
Run Knative: Knative tutorial, best practice and learning resources
Modern Command Line: Command line tutorials for modern new cli tools
Recommended Similar Analysis
The Blossom by William Blake analysisChoices by Carl Sandburg analysis
I cannot dance upon my Toes by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Gods Of The Copybook Headings by Rudyard Kipling analysis
Going to Heaven! by Emily Dickinson analysis
Futility by Wilfred Owen analysis
Final Soliloquy Of The Interior Paramour by Wallace Stevens analysis
To You by Walt Whitman analysis
Intorduction To The Song Of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow analysis
To A Louse by Robert Burns analysis