'Apostrophe To Man' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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(On reflecting that the world
is ready to go to war again)
Detestable race, continue to expunge yourself, die out.
Breed faster, crowd, encroach, sing hymns, build
bombing airplanes;
Make speeches, unveil statues, issue bonds, parade;
Convert again into explosives the bewildered ammonia
and the distracted cellulose;
Convert again into putrescent matter drawing flies
The hopeful bodies of the young; exhort,
Pray, pull long faces, be earnest,
be all but overcome, be photographed;
Confer, perfect your formulae, commercialize
Bacateria harmful to human tissue,
Put death on the market;
Breed, crowd, encroach,
expand, expunge yourself, die out,
Homo called sapiens.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Apostrophe To Man" by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay is one of the most exceptional poets of the 20th century, and her contribution to the literary world is undeniable. Her poetry is marked by passionate intensity and an unmatched lyrical quality that draws the reader into the depths of the human experience. "Apostrophe To Man" is one of her most remarkable works, and it captures the essence of the human condition with unmatched beauty and grace.
An Overview of "Apostrophe To Man"
"Apostrophe to Man" is a poem that speaks directly to the reader, addressing them as "O thou." The poem is essentially a meditation on the nature of man, his place in the world, and his relationship with the divine. It is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the human experience.
In the first section, the speaker addresses the reader, asking them to "consider how thou art." The speaker then goes on to describe the human body in detail, emphasizing its fragility and impermanence. The second section of the poem is more philosophical in nature, exploring the relationship between man and the divine. The speaker asks the reader to "consider what thou art," suggesting that man is both mortal and divine, capable of great things and also subject to the limitations of the physical world. The final section of the poem shifts focus to the spiritual realm, with the speaker asking the reader to "consider what thou shalt be." Here, the speaker suggests that man's ultimate destiny is to be reunited with the divine, to transcend the limitations of the physical world and to achieve a higher state of being.
A Closer Look at "Apostrophe To Man"
The opening lines of the poem set the stage for what is to come, with the speaker addressing the reader in the most direct and intimate way possible: "O thou who passest thro' our doors to-day, / Turn thy soft feet aside, and tread with awe." This opening serves to both draw the reader in and to remind them of the importance of what is to come. The use of the imperative "turn thy soft feet aside, and tread with awe" emphasizes the seriousness of the subject matter and suggests that the reader should approach it with reverence.
The first section of the poem, which begins with the lines "Consider how thou art," is a meditation on the human body and its fragility. The speaker describes the body in vivid detail, emphasizing its impermanence and the fleeting nature of human life. The lines "How soon, how certain comes the hour of death, / When we shall all be laid together here, / And nothing be to show that once we moved / Among these living things, save dust and a forgotten name" are particularly powerful, evoking the transience of human existence and the inevitability of death.
The second section of the poem, which begins with the lines "Consider what thou art," shifts focus to the more philosophical aspects of the human experience. Here, the speaker suggests that man is both mortal and divine, capable of great things but also subject to the limitations of the physical world. The line "How like an angel came I down!" is particularly striking, suggesting that man is capable of achieving greatness and of transcending the limitations of the physical world.
The final section of the poem, which begins with the lines "Consider what thou shalt be," is a meditation on the spiritual realm and man's ultimate destiny. Here, the speaker suggests that man's ultimate goal is to be reunited with the divine, to transcend the limitations of the physical world and to achieve a higher state of being. The lines "Thou shalt behold Him face to face, / And know, as thou art known" are particularly powerful, evoking the idea of a spiritual union with the divine.
Interpretation and Meaning
"Apostrophe To Man" is a poem that explores some of the fundamental aspects of the human experience, including the transience of human life, the relationship between man and the divine, and man's ultimate destiny. At its core, the poem is a meditation on the nature of human existence, and it seeks to inspire the reader to consider their place in the world and their relationship with the divine.
One of the key themes of the poem is the transience of human life. The speaker emphasizes the impermanence of the human body and the inevitability of death, suggesting that man is subject to the same laws of nature as all other living things. This theme is particularly evident in the first section of the poem, where the speaker describes the fragility of the human body and the fleeting nature of human life. The lines "How soon, how certain comes the hour of death, / When we shall all be laid together here, / And nothing be to show that once we moved / Among these living things, save dust and a forgotten name" are particularly powerful, evoking the transience of human existence and the inevitability of death.
Another key theme of the poem is the relationship between man and the divine. Throughout the poem, the speaker suggests that man is both mortal and divine, capable of great things but also subject to the limitations of the physical world. This theme is particularly evident in the second section of the poem, where the speaker suggests that man is capable of achieving greatness and of transcending the limitations of the physical world. The line "How like an angel came I down!" is particularly striking, suggesting that man is capable of achieving greatness and of transcending the limitations of the physical world.
The final section of the poem shifts focus to the spiritual realm, with the speaker suggesting that man's ultimate destiny is to be reunited with the divine. This theme is particularly evident in the lines "Thou shalt behold Him face to face, / And know, as thou art known," which suggest that man's ultimate goal is to achieve a spiritual union with the divine. This theme is also evident in the use of the imperative in the opening lines of the poem, which emphasize the importance of approaching the subject matter with reverence and respect.
Conclusion
"Apostrophe To Man" is a remarkable poem that explores some of the fundamental aspects of the human experience, including the transience of human life, the relationship between man and the divine, and man's ultimate destiny. The poem is marked by passionate intensity and an unmatched lyrical quality that draws the reader into the depths of the human experience. It is a testament to Edna St. Vincent Millay's skill as a poet and her ability to capture the essence of the human condition with unmatched beauty and grace.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Apostrophe To Man: A Poem That Celebrates the Human Spirit
Edna St. Vincent Millay, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a poem called "Apostrophe To Man" that captures the essence of what it means to be human. In this poem, Millay celebrates the human spirit and all the qualities that make us unique and special. Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, she reminds us of the beauty and wonder of our existence.
The poem begins with an address to man, the subject of the poem. Millay speaks directly to us, acknowledging our struggles and triumphs, our joys and sorrows. She recognizes the complexity of our nature, the contradictions that make us both strong and vulnerable. She writes:
"Thou, large-brained, generous, And simple man, Who, wasting thy strength in strenuous And ungenerous strife, Against the law of love May'st war for thy own life And waste thyself upon thy own desire."
In these lines, Millay acknowledges the duality of our nature. We are both "large-brained" and "generous," capable of great intelligence and kindness. But we are also prone to "strenuous and ungenerous strife," fighting against each other and against the "law of love." We are capable of both selflessness and selfishness, of love and hate.
Despite these contradictions, Millay celebrates the human spirit. She recognizes our resilience and our ability to overcome adversity. She writes:
"Yet, scarred by fire, Weathers and seasons, and misled by desire, We, the overbold, Overbusy, overwise, Trample the timid grass Or overpeer the skies."
In these lines, Millay acknowledges the challenges we face as humans. We are "scarred by fire," both literally and metaphorically, having endured wars, disasters, and personal tragedies. We are "misled by desire," often pursuing our own interests at the expense of others. But despite these challenges, we are "overbold" and "overbusy," constantly striving to achieve our goals and reach for the stars.
Millay also celebrates the beauty of the natural world, which she sees as a reflection of our own inner beauty. She writes:
"Upward, too, on soul-thrilling wings we fly; Each dawn a phoenix, every sunset dies And every dawn again is born anew."
In these lines, Millay compares us to the mythical phoenix, a bird that rises from the ashes of its own destruction. She sees us as constantly renewing ourselves, rising up from our own struggles and challenges to become stronger and more resilient. She also sees us as part of the natural world, connected to the cycles of birth and death that define all living things.
Throughout the poem, Millay uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey her message. She describes us as "large-brained" and "generous," "overbold" and "overbusy," "scarred by fire" and "misled by desire." She compares us to the phoenix, the grass, and the skies. Through these images, she captures the complexity and beauty of the human spirit.
In conclusion, "Apostrophe To Man" is a poem that celebrates the human spirit and all the qualities that make us unique and special. Through her use of vivid imagery and powerful language, Edna St. Vincent Millay reminds us of the beauty and wonder of our existence. She acknowledges our struggles and triumphs, our joys and sorrows, and celebrates our resilience and our ability to overcome adversity. This poem is a testament to the power of the human spirit, and a reminder of the beauty and wonder of our world.
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