'Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Oh, my beloved, have you thought of this:
How in the years to come unscrupulous Time,
More cruel than Death, will tear you from my kiss,
And make you old, and leave me in my prime?
How you and I, who scale together yet
A little while the sweet, immortal height
No pilgrim may remember or forget,
As sure as the world turns, some granite night
Shall lie awake and know the gracious flame
Gone out forever on the mutual stone;
And call to mind that on the day you came
I was a child, and you a hero grown?-
And the night pass, and the strange morning break
Upon our anguish for each other's sake!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Introduction
Edna St. Vincent Millay is a renowned American poet who wrote during the early 20th century. She is best known for her sonnets that explore themes of love, loss, and nature. In this literary criticism, we will be discussing Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This, which is one of her most famous sonnets.
Analysis
Structure and Form
Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This is a traditional sonnet with 14 lines, written in iambic pentameter. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into two quatrains and two tercets, which is a typical structure for a sonnet.
The form of the poem reflects the theme of love and the speaker’s desire to be with their beloved. The sonnet is written in a formal structure, which reflects the tradition and seriousness of the feelings that the speaker has for their beloved.
Theme
The theme of love is central to Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This. The speaker is deeply in love with their beloved and is begging them to consider the fleeting nature of life and the importance of seizing the moment.
The poem explores the idea that time is fleeting and that we must make the most of the time we have with our loved ones. The speaker is urging their beloved to consider this fact and to act on their feelings before it is too late.
Literary Devices
Millay uses a number of literary devices to convey her message in Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This. These include:
Metaphor
Millay uses metaphor to compare the passing of time to a stream. She writes:
Oh, hasten not this loving act, Rapture delayed is rapture lost. The stream is swift, the wind sings softly; One glimpse of you, and we are tossed!
The metaphor of the stream highlights the speed at which time passes, and the urgency with which the speaker is urging their beloved to act on their feelings.
Personification
Millay uses personification to give human attributes to nature. She writes:
The winds are warming, birds are calling, Winter’s over, summer’s thralling.
The personification of the winds and birds gives the impression that nature is alive and calling for the speaker’s beloved to act on their feelings.
Rhyme
The rhyme scheme of the sonnet is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The rhyme scheme gives the poem a musical quality and helps to convey the urgency of the speaker’s message.
Interpretation
Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This is a poem about the fleeting nature of time and the importance of seizing the moment. The speaker is deeply in love with their beloved and is urging them to consider the fact that time is passing quickly and that they must act on their feelings before it is too late.
The metaphor of the stream highlights the urgency with which the speaker is urging their beloved to act. The personification of nature gives the impression that the world is calling for the speaker’s beloved to act on their feelings.
The form of the sonnet reflects the traditional and serious nature of the speaker’s feelings. The formal structure of the sonnet gives the poem a sense of gravity and seriousness, which reflects the importance of the message that the speaker is conveying.
Conclusion
Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This is a beautiful and lyrical poem that explores the theme of love and the importance of seizing the moment. The poem is written in a formal structure, which gives it a sense of gravity and seriousness that reflects the importance of the message that the speaker is conveying.
Millay uses metaphor, personification, and rhyme to convey her message in the sonnet. The metaphor of the stream highlights the urgency with which the speaker is urging their beloved to act, while the personification of nature gives the impression that the world is calling for the speaker’s beloved to act on their feelings.
Overall, Sonnets 10: Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the importance of love and the fleeting nature of time.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This: An Analysis of Edna St. Vincent Millay's Classic Poetry Sonnet 10
Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her lyrical and emotional poetry that explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition. One of her most famous works is the collection of sonnets titled "Sonnets from an Ungrafted Tree," which includes the beautiful and poignant "Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This." In this sonnet, Millay explores the idea of love and its fleeting nature, and how it can be both a source of joy and pain.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing their beloved, asking if they have ever considered the fact that their love may not last forever. The opening line, "Oh, my beloved, have you thought of this: / How in the years to come unscrupulous time," sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker acknowledges the inevitability of time and its effect on their relationship. The use of the word "unscrupulous" suggests that time is not only impartial, but also ruthless in its destruction of all things, including love.
The second line continues this theme, as the speaker describes how time will "strip you of your beauty bit by bit." This line is particularly powerful, as it highlights the physical aspect of love and how it can fade over time. The use of the word "strip" suggests a violent and forceful action, as if time is actively working to destroy the beauty of the beloved. The phrase "bit by bit" also emphasizes the gradual nature of this process, as it will happen slowly over time.
The third and fourth lines of the sonnet introduce the idea of memory and how it can preserve the beauty of love even after it has faded. The speaker asks their beloved if they have considered how "memory will sit as a shadow in your face" and how "when the years have made you old and gray, / Memory will sit as a shadow in your eyes." These lines suggest that even though time may strip away the physical beauty of the beloved, their memory will remain and continue to haunt them. The use of the word "shadow" suggests that memory is not a tangible thing, but rather a ghostly presence that lingers in the background.
The fifth and sixth lines of the sonnet continue this theme, as the speaker describes how memory will "sit as a bird sits on a withered bough" and how it will "flutter on your lips when you are dead." These lines suggest that memory is not only a haunting presence, but also a fragile one. The image of a bird sitting on a withered bough suggests that memory is delicate and easily broken, while the idea of memory fluttering on the lips of the dead suggests that it is fleeting and ephemeral.
The final two lines of the sonnet bring the poem to a close, as the speaker acknowledges the pain that comes with the realization that love is not eternal. The speaker asks their beloved if they have considered how "painful it will be to sit alone, / In the last hour, shading with rueful mesh." The use of the word "painful" suggests that the speaker is not only aware of the inevitability of their separation, but also deeply affected by it. The phrase "shading with rueful mesh" suggests a sense of regret and sadness, as if the speaker is mourning the loss of their love even before it has happened.
Overall, "Oh, My Beloved, Have You Thought Of This" is a powerful and emotional sonnet that explores the fleeting nature of love and the pain that comes with its inevitable end. Through the use of vivid imagery and poignant language, Edna St. Vincent Millay captures the essence of love and its complexities, reminding us that even though love may not last forever, its memory will continue to haunt us long after it has faded away.
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