'Invocation To The Muses' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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Read by the poet at The Public Ceremonial of The Naional Instituteof Arts and Letters at Carnegie Hall, New York, January 18th, 1941.Great Muse, that from this hall absent for long
Hast never been,Great Muse of Song,
Colossal Muse of mighty Melody,
Vocal Calliope,
With thine august and contrapuntal brow
And thy vast throat builded for Harmony,
For the strict monumental pure design,
And the melodic line:
Be thou tonight with all beneath these rafters-be with me.
If I address thee in archaic style-
Words obsolete, words obsolescent,
It is that for a little while
The heart must, oh indeed must from this angry and out-rageous present
Itself withdraw
Into some past in which most crooked Evil,
Although quite certainly conceived and born, was not as yet the Law.Archaic, or obsolescent at the least,
Be thy grave speaking and the careful words of thy clear song,
For the time wrongs us, and the words most common to our speech today
Salute and welcome to the feast
Conspicuous Evil- or against him all day long
Cry out, telling of ugly deeds and most uncommon wrong.Be thou tonight with all beneath these rafters-be with me
But oh, be more with those who are not free.
Who, herded into prison camps all shame must suffer and all outrage see.
Where music is not played nor sung,
Though the great voice be there, no sound from the dry throat across the thickened tongue
Comes forth; nor has he heart for it.
Beauty in all things-no, we cannot hope for that; but some place set apart for it.
Here it may dwell;
And with your aid, Melpomene
And all thy sister-muses (for ye are, I think, daughters of Memory)
Within the tortured mind as well.Reaped are those fields with dragon's-teeth so lately sown;
Many the heaped men dying there - so close, hip touches thigh; yet each man dies alone.
Music, what overtone
For the soft ultimate sigh or the unheeded groan
Hast thou-to make death decent, where men slip
Down blood to death, no service of grieved heart or ritual lip
Transferring what was recently a man and still is warm-
Transferring his obedient limbs into the shallow grave where not again a friend shall greet him,
Nor hatred do him harm . . .
Nor true love run to meet him?In the last hours of him who lies untended
On a cold field at night, and sees the hard bright stars
Above his upturned face, and says aloud "How strange . . . my life is ended."-
If in the past he loved great music much, and knew it well,
Let not his lapsing mind be teased by well-beloved but ill- remembered bars -
Let the full symphony across the blood-soaked field
By him be heard, most pure in every part,
The lonely horror of whose painful death is thus repealed,
Who dies with quiet tears upon his upturned face, making to glow with softness the hard stars.And bring to those who knew great poetry well
Page after page that they have loved but have not learned by heart!
We who in comfort to well-lighted shelves
Can turn for all the poets ever wrote,
Beseech you: Bear to those
Who love high art no less than we ourselves,
Those who lie wounded, those who in prison cast
Strive to recall, to ease them, some great ode, and every stanza save the last.Recall-oh, in the dark, restore them
The unremembered lines; make bright the page before them!
Page after page present to these,
In prison concentrated, watched by barbs of bayonet and wire,
Give ye to them their hearts' intense desire-
The words of Shelley, Virgil, Sophocles.And thou, O lovely and not sad,
Euterpe, be thou in this hall tonight!
Bid us remember all we ever hadOf sweet and gay delight-
We who are free,
But cannot quite be glad,
Thinking of huge, abrupt disaster brought
Upon so many of our kind
Who treasure as do we the vivid look on the unfrightened face,
The careless happy stride from place to place,
And the unbounded regions of untrammelled thought
Open as interstellar space
To the exploring and excited mind.O Muses, O immortal Nine!-
Or do ye languish?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

Have you ever read a poem that evokes the deepest emotions in your soul? A poem that transports you to a different realm of consciousness and leaves you with a sense of wonder? If yes, then Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Invocation to the Muses" is one such poem that will take you on a journey of imagination and creativity.

As the title suggests, the poem is an invocation to the Muses, the nine Greek goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences. Millay invites them to inspire her and guide her pen as she writes her poetry. The poem is a tribute to the power of creativity and imagination and how it can transform our lives.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and structure of the poem and how they contribute to its overall meaning and impact.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is the power of creativity and imagination. The speaker invokes the Muses to inspire her and guide her pen as she writes her poetry. She acknowledges that without their help, she is powerless and cannot create anything of value.

The poem also explores the theme of the relationship between the artist and the muse. The speaker sees the Muses not just as sources of inspiration but as partners in the creative process. She recognizes that her art is not just a product of her own efforts but of the divine inspiration that flows through her.

Another theme that emerges from the poem is the idea of the interconnectedness of all things. The speaker acknowledges that the Muses are not just abstract concepts but that they exist in the world around us. She sees them in the beauty of nature, the music of the spheres, and the poetry of everyday life.

Literary Devices

The poem makes use of several literary devices to create its impact. One of the most prominent is the use of imagery. The speaker describes the Muses in vivid detail, evoking their presence and power. She uses metaphors and similes to compare them to the stars, the wind, and the sea, creating a sense of awe and wonder.

The poem also makes use of repetition to emphasize its themes. The phrase "O Muses" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of urgency and intensity. The repetition of the phrase "I cannot write" emphasizes the speaker's sense of powerlessness without the Muses' help.

The poem also employs alliteration and assonance to create a musical quality. The repetition of the "m" sound in "Most musical, most melancholy" creates a sense of harmony, while the repetition of the "i" sound in "imaginative, invincible" creates a sense of strength and power.

Structure

The poem is structured as a traditional invocation, with the speaker calling on the Muses to inspire her. It is composed of fourteen lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The first twelve lines are divided into three quatrains, each of which describes a different aspect of the Muses' power. The final two lines form a rhyming couplet that sums up the speaker's plea for inspiration.

The poem's structure emphasizes its central themes. The repetition of the phrase "O Muses" creates a sense of urgency and intensity, while the rhyme scheme creates a sense of harmony and unity. The poem's structure also emphasizes its musical qualities, with the use of alliteration and assonance adding to its overall musicality.

Interpretation

At its core, "Invocation to the Muses" is a poem about the power of creativity and imagination. The speaker recognizes that without the help of the Muses, she is powerless to create anything of value. She sees the Muses not just as abstract concepts but as real entities that exist in the world around us. She acknowledges that her art is not just a product of her own efforts but of the divine inspiration that flows through her.

The poem also explores the relationship between the artist and the muse. The speaker sees the Muses not just as sources of inspiration but as partners in the creative process. She recognizes that her art is not just a product of her own efforts but of the divine inspiration that flows through her.

Finally, the poem emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things. The speaker sees the Muses not just in the beauty of nature but in the poetry of everyday life. She recognizes that everything around us is infused with the power of creativity and imagination.

Conclusion

"Invocation to the Muses" is a powerful tribute to the power of creativity and imagination. Through its use of vivid imagery, repetition, and musicality, the poem creates a sense of awe and wonder. It reminds us that the world around us is infused with the power of creativity and imagination and that we are all capable of tapping into that power to create something of value.

Whether you are an artist, a writer, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of the world around you, "Invocation to the Muses" is a poem that will inspire and uplift you. It is a timeless reminder of the power of the human spirit and our capacity to create something beautiful out of the chaos of everyday life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Invocation to the Muses" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This poem is a beautiful tribute to the Muses, the nine goddesses of inspiration in Greek mythology. The poem is a call to the Muses to inspire the poet and guide her in her creative endeavors. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its significance and beauty.

The poem begins with a powerful invocation to the Muses. The poet calls upon the Muses to "come to me, O ye Muses, nine divine!" This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The poet is calling upon the Muses to inspire her and guide her in her creative endeavors. The use of the word "divine" emphasizes the importance of the Muses in the creative process. The poet recognizes that without the Muses, her work would be incomplete.

The first stanza of the poem sets the scene for the rest of the poem. The poet describes the setting as "a lonely hill" where she is "sitting at the close of day." This setting is significant because it represents the poet's solitude and her need for inspiration. The poet is alone on the hill, and she is calling upon the Muses to join her and inspire her.

The second stanza of the poem is where the poet begins to address the Muses directly. She asks the Muses to "come to me, O ye Muses, nine divine!" She then goes on to describe the Muses as "daughters of Zeus" and "queens of song." The use of these titles emphasizes the importance of the Muses in Greek mythology and in the creative process. The poet recognizes that the Muses are powerful and influential, and she is calling upon them to use their power to inspire her.

The third stanza of the poem is where the poet begins to describe the specific ways in which she wants the Muses to inspire her. She asks the Muses to "teach me to sing of the wondrous things that round the earth are lying." This line is significant because it shows that the poet wants to write about the world around her. She wants to write about the beauty and wonder of nature, and she is asking the Muses to help her do so.

The fourth stanza of the poem is where the poet begins to describe the specific ways in which she wants the Muses to guide her. She asks the Muses to "guide my hand and guide my heart, and show me how to tell the story." This line is significant because it shows that the poet wants the Muses to guide her in the creative process. She wants them to help her write the story she wants to tell.

The fifth stanza of the poem is where the poet begins to describe the specific ways in which she wants the Muses to inspire her. She asks the Muses to "fill my soul with fire divine, and make me worthy of your choir." This line is significant because it shows that the poet wants the Muses to inspire her with their divine fire. She wants to be worthy of their choir, which emphasizes the importance of the Muses in the creative process.

The sixth and final stanza of the poem is where the poet concludes her invocation to the Muses. She asks the Muses to "come to me, O ye Muses, nine divine!" This line is significant because it shows that the poet is still calling upon the Muses to inspire her. She recognizes that the creative process is ongoing, and she needs the Muses to continue to guide her.

In terms of imagery, the poem is full of vivid and powerful images. The poet describes the setting as "a lonely hill" where she is "sitting at the close of day." This image emphasizes the poet's solitude and her need for inspiration. The poet also describes the Muses as "daughters of Zeus" and "queens of song." These images emphasize the power and importance of the Muses in the creative process.

In terms of language, the poem is full of beautiful and poetic language. The use of the word "divine" emphasizes the importance of the Muses in the creative process. The poet also uses powerful verbs such as "teach," "guide," and "fill" to describe the ways in which she wants the Muses to inspire her. The use of these verbs emphasizes the poet's desire for guidance and inspiration.

In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's "Invocation to the Muses" is a beautiful tribute to the Muses and the creative process. The poem is full of powerful imagery and poetic language that emphasizes the importance of the Muses in the creative process. The poet recognizes that without the Muses, her work would be incomplete. This poem is a timeless reminder of the power of inspiration and the importance of the Muses in the creative process.

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