'When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins' by Edna St. Vincent Millay


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When we are old and these rejoicing veins
Are frosty channels to a muted stream,
And out of all our burning there remains
No feeblest spark to fire us, even in dream,
This be our solace: that it was not said
When we were young and warm and in our prime,
Upon our couch we lay as lie the dead,
Sleeping away the unreturning time.
O sweet, O heavy-lidded, O my love,
When morning strikes her spear upon the land,
And we must rise and arm us and reprove
The insolent daylight with a steady hand,
Be not discountenanced if the knowing know
We rose from rapture but an hour ago.

Editor 1 Interpretation

When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins by Edna St. Vincent Millay: A Literary Criticism

Oh, the beauty and melancholy of Edna St. Vincent Millay's poem "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins"! It's a work of art that speaks to the heart and the soul, one that captures the fleeting nature of youth and the longing for love and companionship. In this literary criticism, we will delve deep into the poem's themes, language, and style, and explore its many layers of meaning.

Background and Context

First, let's take a moment to appreciate the context in which this poem was written. Edna St. Vincent Millay was a prominent poet of the 20th century, known for her vivid imagery and unbridled passion. She was a feminist and a champion of social justice, and her poetry often reflected her political and social concerns. In the case of "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins," Millay was writing about something deeply personal: the fear of growing old and losing the beauty and vitality of youth.

This poem was published in Millay's collection "The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems" in 1923. It was a time of great social and cultural change, with the rise of the flapper era, the Jazz Age, and a new sense of freedom and rebellion. Millay was part of this movement, and her poetry reflected the changing times. "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins" is a testament to the fear and uncertainty that comes with growing older, but it's also a celebration of the enduring power of love.

Themes

At its core, "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins" is a meditation on the passage of time and the inevitability of aging. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of this theme. In the first stanza, Millay describes the physical changes that come with age, using vivid imagery to capture the frailty of the human body:

When we are old and these rejoicing veins
Are frosty channels to a muted stream,
And out of all our burning their remains
No feeblest spark to fire us, even in dream,

The metaphor of "frosty channels" and a "muted stream" suggests a slowing down of bodily functions, a loss of vitality and energy. The "feeblest spark" represents the dwindling of passion and desire, a foreshadowing of the loneliness and isolation that can come with old age.

In the second stanza, Millay shifts her focus to the idea of memory and the past. She asks:

Do we still thrill to fingers that brushed ours,
They now touch nought that they did not then?
Is the old passion dead? . . . Shall it return?

Here, she is asking whether the memories of past loves and passions still hold any power over us, whether they still have the ability to evoke strong emotions. The questions are rhetorical, of course, as the speaker seems to suggest that the past is irrevocably gone, and that the passions of youth cannot be resurrected.

The final stanza brings the theme of love to the forefront, suggesting that it is the only thing that can endure the ravages of time:

And I shall have you, like a guiding star,
The guiding star a lost ship sees at sea,
The steadfast, radiant anchor that we trust,

The metaphor of the "guiding star" and the "radiant anchor" suggest stability and constancy, a sense of security in the face of life's uncertainties. The speaker is essentially saying that even in old age, love can still be a source of comfort and joy, a guiding force that keeps us steady when all else is uncertain.

Language and Style

Millay's language in "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins" is both lyrical and spare, using simple yet evocative imagery to convey complex emotions. The poem is written in free verse, with no strict rhyme or meter, giving it a natural and conversational tone. This style allows the poem to flow smoothly, and lends it a sense of intimacy and immediacy.

The use of metaphors and other figurative language is particularly effective in this poem. Millay uses them to convey the idea of the human body as a vessel for passion:

And out of all our burning their remains
No feeblest spark to fire us, even in dream,

Here, the human body is compared to a fire that has been extinguished, a powerful metaphor for the loss of passion and desire that can come with old age.

The final stanza is particularly striking in terms of its language and imagery. Millay uses the metaphor of a "guiding star" and a "radiant anchor" to describe the enduring power of love. These metaphors are powerful because they suggest a sense of security and stability, even in the face of life's uncertainties.

Interpretation

At its core, "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins" is a poem about the fear of growing old and losing the vitality and passion of youth. It's a meditation on the inevitability of aging, and the sense of loss and isolation that can come with it. However, it's also a celebration of the enduring power of love, and the idea that even in old age, love can be a source of comfort and joy.

The poem is notable for its use of vivid imagery and figurative language, which help to bring its themes to life. Millay's style is both lyrical and spare, with no strict rhyme or meter, giving the poem a natural and conversational tone. This style allows the poem to flow smoothly and lends it a sense of intimacy and immediacy.

Ultimately, "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins" is a poignant and thought-provoking work of art that speaks to the universal human experience of aging and the fear of death. It's a poem that reminds us of the fleeting nature of life, and the importance of cherishing the moments we have. But it's also a poem that celebrates the enduring power of love, and the idea that even in the face of life's uncertainties, we can still find comfort and joy in the embrace of those we love.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins: A Poem of Love and Aging

Edna St. Vincent Millay's "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins" is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of love, aging, and the passage of time. Written in 1931, the poem is a reflection on the inevitability of growing old and the enduring power of love.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing her lover, saying "When we are old and these rejoicing veins / Are frosty channels to a muted stream." The image of "frosty channels" and a "muted stream" suggests the slowing down of the body and the loss of vitality that comes with old age. The speaker acknowledges that their bodies will change as they age, but their love will remain strong.

The second stanza continues this theme, with the speaker saying "When we are old and these wild veins are cold / As January snow let us walk winter woods." The image of walking in the winter woods suggests a sense of isolation and loneliness, but the speaker suggests that they will still have each other, even in old age. The use of the word "wild" to describe their veins suggests a sense of passion and intensity that will remain even as their bodies age.

The third stanza shifts the focus to the memories they will have of their youth. The speaker says "We have walked in our youth through the storm of youth / And now, in age, I walk the same road still." The repetition of the word "youth" emphasizes the idea that their memories of their youth will remain with them even as they age. The speaker suggests that they will continue to walk the same road, but now with the added perspective of age.

The fourth stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem, with the speaker saying "Love, not less than ever, will still prevail / In all its power when we are old and grey." The use of the word "power" suggests that their love will remain strong even as their bodies weaken. The speaker acknowledges that their bodies will change, but their love will endure.

The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the speaker saying "O, you and I, again undone / By love, by love, the sad, the splendid one." The repetition of the phrase "by love" emphasizes the idea that their love is the driving force behind their lives. The use of the words "sad" and "splendid" suggests that their love is both beautiful and painful, but ultimately worth it.

Overall, "When We Are Old And These Rejoicing Veins" is a beautiful and moving poem that explores the themes of love, aging, and the passage of time. The poem suggests that even as our bodies age and change, our love can remain strong and enduring. The use of vivid imagery and repetition creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the speaker and her lover, making the poem a powerful reflection on the nature of love and the human experience.

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