Edna St. Vincent Millay

Question: Does anyone truly “get” poetry or is it one of those things that we all wish we were deep enough to understand?

I hate to admit it, but half the time poetry goes in one ear and out the other. If by some chance/miracle I think I understand, end up being completely wrong. It’s not that I don’t like poetry, because I really do. I respect people who are so clever and passionate with words that they can put them in such ways to create something so beautiful.

What I love about Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poetry is not only is it witty and smart, but actually tangible for most people to read. And morely, though it was written about 80 years old, relates to universal messages. If I was a poet, I’d want to write like her. She speaks to everyone, not soley to the small minority of people who actually get and follow poetry, or the other group who just pretend for the sake of appearing “deep and interesting”.

Here are a few examples from one of her most famous books, “A Few Figs From Thistle”:

This first one you probably have heard before.

“First Fig”

My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends–
It gives a lovely light!

To me, it is such a celebration of youth. For years and years, my mom has told me, “Kristine, you better slow down. You don’t want to burn the candle at both ends”. But I always did and I think when your young, you just can’t help yourself. Life is still so new. How can young people NOT want to experience and do as much as possible. You have plenty of time to slow down when you get older. And that’s what Edna is saying. The light won’t last forever, but at that moment and at that time, it is so alive and amazing.

“Grown Up”

Was it for this I uttered prayers,
And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs,
That now, domestic as a plate,
I should retire at half-past eight?

Ha, this is another great one. I remember being 17 years old and so frustrated for being too young to do anything good. I wanted to be older so badly and now at 24, wish time to stand still and keep me at this place. The grass is always greener at the other side. When you’re young, you dream and wish to be older. Then you grow up and reach a certain age to find yourself in a blah blah basic routine and curse yourself for not enjoying the freedom and excitement of the unknown youth. Are we ever satisfied? Hmm no.

“The Philosopher”

And what are you that, wanting you,
I should be kept awake
As many nights as there are days
With weeping for your sake?

And what are you that, missing you,
As many days as crawl
I should be listening to the wind
And looking at the wall?

I know a man that’s a braver man
And twenty men as kind,
And what are you, that you should be
The one man in my mind?

Yet women’s ways are witless ways,
As any sage will tell, –
And what am I, that I should love
So wisely and so well?

So explanatory. Typical frustration over the guy you can’t manage to get over. Those questions of “WHY you? What is so great about you? I know better. Smarter. Better looking etc.”
But it’s you.
Why won’t you leave my mind?
That it’s so typical for us ladies to feel this way.
That you think your above the trap, but get caught in it too.
And I feel that way. Because the few who get me, it’s hard to me to get away.

Am I wrong? Any other interpretations? Maybe I’m looking at these in the wrong light…which I absolutely/probably could be.