'Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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Night is my sister, and how deep in love,
How drowned in love and weedily washed ashore,
There to be fretted by the drag and shove
At the tide's edge, I lie-these things and more:
Whose arm alone between me and the sand,
Whose voice alone, whose pitiful breath brought near,
Could thaw these nostrils and unlock this hand,
She could advise you, should you care to hear.
Small chance, however, in a storm so black,
A man will leave his friendly fire and snug
For a drowned woman's sake, and bring her back
To drip and scatter shells upon the rug.
No one but Night, with tears on her dark face,
Watches beside me in this windy place.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, was known for her sonnets and lyric poetry that explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience. In her poem "Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love," Millay delves into the complexities of love and the longing that comes with it.

Overview and Analysis

At its core, "Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love" is a poem about longing and the power of love. Millay personifies night as her sister, and throughout the poem, she describes the ways in which night and love are intertwined. The speaker of the poem is deeply in love and is consumed by the longing that comes with it. She describes how her longing for her lover is so intense that it feels like "a knife in the heart."

Throughout the poem, Millay uses vivid imagery to convey the speaker's emotions. She describes the night as "black as grief," and the stars as "cold as death." These images create a sense of darkness and despair, emphasizing the intense emotions that the speaker is experiencing. However, Millay also uses imagery to convey the beauty of love. She describes the stars as "burning bright" and "lovely," emphasizing the way in which love can bring light and beauty to even the darkest of nights.

The poem is composed of six quatrains, each with a rhyming scheme of ABAB. This traditional form is fitting for a poem about love, as it emphasizes the structure and order that love can bring to our lives. However, Millay also subverts this traditional form in subtle ways, adding a sense of unpredictability and passion to the poem.

Themes and Interpretation

At its core, "Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love" is a poem about the power of love and the longing that comes with it. The speaker is deeply in love and is consumed by the desire to be with her lover. The poem explores the complex emotions that come with love, such as longing, despair, and beauty.

One of the key themes in the poem is the idea that love can bring light to even the darkest of nights. Millay uses imagery to convey the idea that love can be a source of warmth and light in a world that can often feel dark and cold. The stars, which are often associated with love and romance, are described as "lovely" and "burning bright," emphasizing the idea that love can bring light and beauty to even the darkest of nights.

Another key theme in the poem is the idea that love can be both beautiful and painful. The speaker describes how her longing for her lover feels like "a knife in the heart." This image conveys the idea that love can be painful and can cause us to feel intense emotions that are both beautiful and difficult to bear.

Finally, the poem explores the idea that love can bring structure and order to our lives. The traditional form of the poem emphasizes the idea that love can bring structure and meaning to the chaos of our emotions. However, Millay also subverts this form in subtle ways, emphasizing the unpredictability and passion that come with love.

Conclusion

In "Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love," Edna St. Vincent Millay explores the complex emotions that come with love. The poem is a powerful exploration of the longing, despair, beauty, and pain that come with being deeply in love. Millay's use of vivid imagery and traditional form create a powerful and moving work of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love: A Masterpiece by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was a master of capturing the essence of human emotions in her works. Her poem, "Poetry Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love," is a perfect example of her brilliance. This poem is a beautiful tribute to the power of poetry and the way it can connect us to our deepest emotions.

The poem begins with the speaker declaring that poetry night is her sister. This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes a sense of intimacy and familiarity. The speaker is not just attending a poetry night; she is deeply connected to it, as if it is a part of her family. This connection is further emphasized in the next line, where the speaker declares that she is "deep in love" with poetry night. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's relationship with poetry is not just casual or superficial. She is truly in love with it, and this love is a driving force in her life.

The next few lines of the poem describe the setting of the poetry night. The speaker describes the room as "dimly lit," with "candles flickering" and "voices hushed." This description creates a sense of intimacy and sets the stage for the emotional journey that the speaker is about to embark on. The use of the word "hushed" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the audience is reverent and respectful of the power of poetry.

The next stanza of the poem is where the emotional journey truly begins. The speaker describes how she feels when she hears the poets read their work. She says that her heart "beats faster" and that she feels a "trembling in her bones." This description is incredibly powerful because it captures the physical and emotional response that poetry can evoke in us. The use of the word "trembling" is particularly effective because it suggests that the speaker is not just moved by the poetry; she is physically affected by it.

The next few lines of the poem describe the way that the speaker connects with the poets and their work. She says that she feels as if she is "one with them," and that their words "flow through her." This description is significant because it suggests that poetry has the power to connect us to something greater than ourselves. When we read or hear poetry that resonates with us, we feel as if we are part of a larger community of people who share our experiences and emotions.

The final stanza of the poem is where the speaker reflects on the power of poetry and what it means to her. She says that poetry is "the breath of life," and that it has the power to "lift her up" and "carry her away." This description is incredibly powerful because it suggests that poetry is not just a form of entertainment or intellectual exercise; it is a vital part of the speaker's life. The use of the word "breath" is particularly effective because it suggests that poetry is as essential to life as air.

In conclusion, "Poetry Night Is My Sister, And How Deep In Love" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the power of the art form to connect us to our deepest emotions. Edna St. Vincent Millay's use of language is masterful, and her ability to evoke a physical and emotional response in the reader is truly remarkable. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry and its ability to enrich our lives in ways that we may not even be able to fully articulate.

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