edna st vincent millay collected sonnets

Now, I don't dispute the critics who say that Millay was a limited poet I don't entirely disagree with those who say that Millay's 'Look at what a bad girl I am! Look, look: I'm naughty, I love sex and I love talking about sex (as well as nature and, occasionally, world affairs), and I don't care what people say about me!' posturing has a limiting effect on her poetry, such that many of her poems end up saying virtually the same thing as one another. To struggle on without a break thus far -, I would indeed that love were longer-lived,Īnd oaths were not so brittle as they are,

I will protest you with my favourite vow.

If you entreat me with your loveliest lie Your little month, your little half a year, So make the most of this, your little day, Where never fell his foot or shone his faceĪnd so stand stricken, so remembering him.' Heaped on my heart, and my old thoughts abide,Īnd entering with relief some quiet place The old snows melt from every mountain-side,Īnd last year's leaves are smoke in every lane īut last year's bitter loving must remain Who told me time would ease me of my pain! 'Time does not bring relief you all have lied There is nothing I love more than the sonnets of Edna St. The insolent daylight with a steady hand,īe not discountenanced if the knowing know When morning strikes her spear upon the land, When we were young and warm and in our prime, No feeblest spark to fire us, even in dream, When we are old and these rejoicing veins Carpe diem, people! Here is one of my favorites as an example of how adept she is with this theme: Many refer to the passing of time as causing us to become cold and unable to participate in the rigors of youth. Within the poems, some of my favorite themes are that of impending death and lost love. Her lifestyle was highly unusual for the time period. She wanted to be called Vincent from a young age and was romantically and sexually attracted to both genders. Vincent Millay are it! Apart from the text itself, you may wish to study a little of the author's life which is fascinating. I readily admit that I'm not an expert at poetry, but I do know what I like and these sonnets by Edna St. It also takes a while to understand which flow over me like a babbling brook, crash unto me like waves at high tide or bury me like lava flowing from a volcano. It takes time to read these sonnets aloud enjoying their beautiful cadence and flow.

Edna st vincent millay collected sonnets