'Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless' by Edna St. Vincent Millay


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As to some lovely temple, tenantless
Long since, that once was sweet with shivering brass,
Knowing well its altars ruined and the grass
Grown up between the stones, yet from excess
Of grief hard driven, or great loneliness,
The worshiper returns, and those who pass
Marvel him crying on a name that was,—
So is it now with me in my distress.
Your body was a temple to Delight;
Cold are its ashes whence the breath is fled,
Yet here one time your spirit was wont to move;
Here might I hope to find you day or night,
And here I come to look for you, my love,
Even now, foolishly, knowing you are dead.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless by Edna St. Vincent Millay

As a literary critic, I feel the need to express my admiration for Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless. In this poem, Millay seamlessly blends the themes of love, loss, and mortality to create a powerful and timeless piece of literature.

The title of the sonnet gives us an idea of what to expect from the poem, but it is the opening line that draws the reader in and piques their interest. "As to some lovely temple, tenantless" immediately creates a sense of emptiness and loss. The temple is beautiful, but it is also vacant. This creates a feeling of longing and sadness that sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

Millay then goes on to describe the temple in more detail. The columns are "fallen," the "towers broken," and the "great dome" is "unleaved." All of these images create a sense of decay and abandonment. The temple was once grand and beautiful, but now it is in ruins. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a person who was once full of life and vitality, but is now old and decrepit.

The third line of the poem is where Millay introduces the theme of love. She says that the temple was once "loved and lovely," which implies that it was not always vacant. There was a time when someone cared for it and took care of it. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a relationship that once existed, but is now over.

The fourth line of the poem is where Millay introduces the theme of mortality. She says that the temple was "hallowed and soiled," which implies that it was once sacred, but has now been desecrated. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of death. No matter how sacred and beautiful something may be, it will eventually succumb to the ravages of time.

The next few lines of the poem are where Millay truly shines as a poet. She writes, "Love passes, and we remain." This simple statement is both profound and beautiful. It speaks to the idea that love is fleeting, but we as humans endure. We may lose the things we love, but we ourselves continue on.

Millay then goes on to describe how the temple has been abandoned and forgotten. She says that "the spider makes a busy moan," which creates a sense of eeriness and desolation. The spider is an image of decay and death, which ties into the theme of mortality that Millay introduced earlier in the poem.

The final two lines of the poem are where Millay brings everything together. She says that the temple is "vainly sad," which implies that it is sad for no reason. The temple has been abandoned and forgotten, but it is still beautiful in its own way. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for life itself. Even though we may age and die, there is still beauty to be found in the world.

In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless is a powerful and timeless piece of literature. Millay seamlessly blends the themes of love, loss, and mortality to create a poem that is both beautiful and profound. The imagery she uses is both eerie and captivating, and her message is one that speaks to the human experience. This poem is a testament to Millay's talent as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of the human condition.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnets 11: As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless - A Masterpiece by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her lyrical and poignant poetry that captures the essence of human emotions. Her sonnet, "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless," is a classic example of her mastery of the form and her ability to evoke powerful imagery and emotions through her words.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing a "lovely temple, tenantless," which is a metaphor for a beautiful and empty space that once held something precious. The speaker then goes on to describe the temple's surroundings, which are now overgrown with weeds and vines, and the temple itself, which is now in ruins. The speaker then laments the loss of what once filled the temple, which is implied to be love or some other precious emotion.

The first quatrain of the sonnet sets the scene and establishes the metaphor of the temple. The speaker describes the temple as "lovely" and "tenantless," which immediately creates a sense of loss and longing. The use of the word "lovely" suggests that the temple was once a beautiful and cherished place, while the word "tenantless" implies that it is now empty and abandoned. This creates a sense of sadness and nostalgia, as the reader is left to imagine what might have once filled the temple.

In the second quatrain, the speaker describes the temple's surroundings, which are now overgrown with weeds and vines. The use of the word "rank" to describe the weeds and vines suggests that they are not only overgrown but also unpleasant and unwanted. This creates a sense of decay and neglect, as if the temple has been forgotten and left to wither away. The use of the word "desolate" to describe the temple's surroundings further emphasizes this sense of abandonment and loss.

In the third quatrain, the speaker turns their attention to the temple itself, which is now in ruins. The use of the word "broken" to describe the temple suggests that it has been damaged or destroyed in some way. This creates a sense of finality and irreversibility, as if the temple can never be restored to its former glory. The use of the word "dust" to describe the temple's remains further emphasizes this sense of decay and loss.

In the final couplet, the speaker laments the loss of what once filled the temple. The use of the word "love" is implied but not explicitly stated, which creates a sense of ambiguity and universality. The reader is left to imagine what might have once filled the temple and what might be lost forever. The use of the word "gone" in the final line emphasizes the sense of finality and loss, as if whatever once filled the temple can never be regained.

Overall, "As To Some Lovely Temple, Tenantless" is a powerful and evocative sonnet that captures the essence of loss and longing. The use of the metaphor of the temple creates a sense of beauty and preciousness that has been lost, while the descriptions of the temple's surroundings and remains create a sense of decay and neglect. The final couplet leaves the reader with a sense of sadness and nostalgia, as if something precious has been lost forever. Edna St. Vincent Millay's mastery of the sonnet form and her ability to evoke powerful emotions through her words make this poem a true masterpiece of modern poetry.

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