'Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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As to some lovely temple, tenantless
Long since, that once was sweet with shivering brass,
Knowing well its altars ruined and the grass
Grown up between the stones, yet from excess
Of grief hard driven, or great loneliness,
The worshiper returns, and those who pass
Marvel him crying on a name that was,-
So is it now with me in my distress.
Your body was a temple to Delight;
Cold are its ashes whence the breath is fled,
Yet here one time your spirit was wont to move;
Here might I hope to find you day or night,
And here I come to look for you, my love,
Even now, foolishly, knowing you are dead.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless by Edna St. Vincent Millay
As I read through the sonnets of Edna St. Vincent Millay, I couldn't help but be drawn to the eleventh one - "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless." The title itself is intriguing, almost poetic, and it sets the tone for what is to come. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the meaning behind the poem, the language used, and the emotions it evokes.
Overview
Firstly, I would like to give a brief overview of the poem. "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless" is a sonnet, with the traditional fourteen lines and iambic pentameter. The poem is addressed to a lover who has left the speaker, and the speaker is comparing their body to a temple that is now empty and deserted. The tone of the poem is melancholic and reflective, with a sense of longing and loss.
Language and Imagery
One of the most striking things about this poem is the language and imagery used by Millay. The comparison of the body to a temple is a powerful metaphor, and the use of personification adds to the emotional weight of the poem. The opening lines, "As to some lovely temple, / tenantless / Long since, that once was sweet with shivering brass," create a sense of nostalgia and loss right from the start.
Throughout the poem, Millay uses vivid and evocative language to describe the body and the emotions of the speaker. For example, in the lines "Gone are the pillars, / fallen are the walls, / And the mosaic of the floors is dust," the use of the verbs "gone" and "fallen" create a sense of decay and ruin. The image of the "mosaic of the floors" being "dust" is particularly poignant, as it reinforces the idea that everything the speaker once held dear has now turned to nothing.
Themes and Meanings
At its core, "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless" is a poem about loss and the passage of time. The speaker is mourning the loss of their lover, and the comparison to a temple that is now empty and derelict highlights the idea that everything eventually fades away. The poem can also be seen as a reflection on mortality, with the body being compared to a temple that is slowly falling apart.
However, there is also a sense of acceptance and resignation in the poem. The final lines, "But the choir of the unalterable / Has entered in, and is become the soul," suggest that the speaker has found some peace in the knowledge that everything eventually comes to an end. The idea that the "choir" has become the soul of the temple - and by extension, the body - suggests that there is still something beautiful and valuable there, even if it is not what it once was.
Interpretation
Interpreting a poem is always a subjective process, but for me, "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless" speaks to the universal human experience of loss and the passing of time. The use of the temple metaphor is particularly effective, as it creates a sense of something once grand and beautiful that has now been left to decay.
There is also a sense of acceptance and resignation in the poem, which I find comforting. While it is natural to mourn the loss of something or someone that was once important to us, it is also important to accept that everything eventually comes to an end. The final lines of the poem suggest that there is still value and beauty in what remains, even if it is not what it once was.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless" is a beautiful and poignant sonnet that speaks to the human experience of loss and the passing of time. The use of vivid language and metaphor creates a sense of nostalgia and decay, while the final lines offer a sense of acceptance and resignation. As with all great poetry, the meaning and interpretation of the poem will vary from person to person, but for me, this is a powerful and moving piece of writing that captures something essential about the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless: A Masterpiece of Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay, an American poet, playwright, and feminist, is known for her lyrical and emotional poetry. Her sonnets are particularly famous for their intricate structure, deep meaning, and beautiful language. One of her most celebrated sonnets is "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless," which is a perfect example of her poetic genius.
The sonnet is divided into two quatrains and a sestet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The first quatrain sets the tone of the poem by describing a temple that is "tenantless," meaning it has no inhabitants. The temple is described as "lovely," which suggests that it was once a place of beauty and grandeur. However, now it is abandoned and empty, with no one to appreciate its beauty.
The second quatrain introduces the speaker's feelings towards the temple. The speaker compares the temple to a "broken urn" that once held something precious but is now empty and useless. The speaker feels a sense of loss and sadness for the temple, as if it were a living being that has been abandoned and forgotten.
The sestet of the sonnet is where the speaker's emotions become more complex. The speaker begins by saying that the temple is "not dead," but rather it is "sleeping." This suggests that the temple still has the potential to be revived and restored to its former glory. The speaker then goes on to say that the temple is "waiting for the breath of life to come." This line is particularly powerful because it suggests that the temple is not just waiting for someone to come and inhabit it, but rather it is waiting for someone to bring it back to life.
The final couplet of the sonnet is where the speaker's emotions are fully realized. The speaker says that they will be the one to bring the temple back to life, and that they will "make it live again." This line is a declaration of the speaker's determination and passion for the temple. The speaker is not content to simply mourn the loss of the temple, but rather they are determined to bring it back to life and restore its beauty.
The language used in the sonnet is particularly beautiful and evocative. The use of the word "lovely" to describe the temple creates a sense of nostalgia and longing for something that has been lost. The comparison of the temple to a "broken urn" is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the temple was once a vessel for something precious, but now it is empty and useless. The use of the word "sleeping" to describe the temple creates a sense of hope and potential for the future.
Overall, "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless" is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Edna St. Vincent Millay's poetic genius. The sonnet is a perfect example of her ability to use language to evoke complex emotions and ideas. The sonnet is a tribute to the beauty of the past, the potential of the future, and the power of determination and passion to bring something back to life.
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