'The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge' by Edna St. Vincent Millay

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What should I be but a prophet and a liar,
Whose mother was a leprechaun, whose father was a friar?
Teethed on a crucifix and cradled under water,
What should I be but the fiend's god-daughter?And who should be my playmates but the adder and the frog,
That was got beneath a furze-bush and born in a bog?
And what should be my singing, that was christened at an altar,
But Aves and Credos and Psalms out of the Psalter?You will see such webs on the wet grass, maybe,
As a pixie-mother weaves for her baby,
You will find such flame at the wave's weedy ebb
As flashes in the meshes of a mer-mother's web,But there comes to birth no common spawn
From the love of a priest for a leprechaun,
And you never have seen and you never will see
Such things as the things that swaddled me!After all's said and after all's done,
What should I be but a harlot and a nun?In through the bushes, on any foggy day,
My Da would come a-swishing of the drops away,
With a prayer for my death and a groan for my birth,
A-mumbling of his beads for all that he was worth.And there'd sit my Ma, with her knees beneath her chin,
A-looking in his face and a-drinking of it in,
And a-marking in the moss some funny little saying
That would mean just the opposite of all that he was praying!He taught me the holy-talk of Vesper and of Matin,
He heard me my Greek and he heard me my Latin,
He blessed me and crossed me to keep my soul from evil,
And we watched him out of sight, and we conjured up the devil!Oh, the things I haven't seen and the things I haven't known,
What with hedges and ditches till after I was grown,
And yanked both way by my mother and my father,
With a "Which would you better?" and a " Which would you
rather?"With him for a sire and her for a dam,
What should I be but just what I am?

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge: A Literary Masterpiece

Have you ever heard the voice of the singing-woman from the wood's edge? If you have, then you must know the magic of poetry that can transcend time and space. Edna St. Vincent Millay's iconic poem, 'The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge,' is a masterpiece that captures the essence of nature, love, and the human condition in a way that only poetry can. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and style of this beautiful poem.

The Themes of 'The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge'

On the surface, the poem is about a beautiful woman singing in the woods. However, as we delve deeper, we discover that the poem is about much more. The central themes of the poem are nature, love, and mortality.

Nature is a recurring motif in the poem. Millay describes the woods as "lush and wet and green," creating an image of a rich and vibrant natural world. The singing-woman is a part of this nature, and her voice blends seamlessly with the sounds of the forest. This connection between nature and the singing-woman represents a harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world.

Love is another central theme of the poem. The singing-woman's voice is so beautiful that it captivates the speaker, who is overwhelmed by feelings of love and desire. The speaker is drawn towards the singing-woman, and he imagines himself as a part of her world. This longing for love is a universal human experience, and the poem captures it perfectly.

Finally, mortality is a theme that runs throughout the poem. The singing-woman is a fleeting presence in the woods, and her song is a reminder that all things must come to an end. The speaker is aware of his own mortality and yearns for something that will transcend it. The singing-woman's voice provides a fleeting moment of transcendence, a glimpse into something beyond the mundane world.

The Symbols of 'The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge'

The poem is rich with symbols that add depth and meaning to the work. One of the most important symbols is the singing-woman herself. She represents the beauty and mystery of nature, and her voice is a symbol of the power of art to transcend the everyday world.

The woods are also a symbol in the poem. They represent the natural world and the mysteries that lie within it. The woods are a place of magic and wonder, where anything can happen. The singing-woman's voice is a part of this magic, and it represents the power of nature to inspire and transform.

The speaker is also a symbol in the poem. He represents the human desire for connection and transcendence. His longing for the singing-woman's voice is a symbol of the human desire for something greater than the mundane world.

The Style of 'The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge'

Millay's style in this poem is both lyrical and evocative. She uses rich imagery and vibrant language to create a vivid picture of the world she is describing. Her use of repetition, such as the repeated use of the phrase "singing-woman," adds a musical quality to the poem, emphasizing the importance of the singing-woman's voice.

The poem is also structured in a way that reflects its themes. The first stanza sets the scene, describing the lush and vibrant woods. The second stanza introduces the singing-woman and her voice. The third stanza describes the effect of the singing-woman's voice on the speaker, and the final stanza reflects on the fleeting nature of the experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 'The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge' is a literary masterpiece that captures the essence of nature, love, and the human condition. Through its central themes, symbols, and style, the poem explores the universal human experience of longing for something greater than the mundane world. Millay's use of rich imagery, repetition, and musical language creates a work of stunning beauty that will continue to captivate readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Edna St. Vincent Millay, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her unique style of writing that blends traditional forms with modernist sensibilities. Her poem, "The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge," is a perfect example of her mastery of language and form.

The poem is a narrative that tells the story of a woman who sings in the woods. The speaker of the poem, who is not identified, hears the woman's song and is drawn to her. The woman's song is described as "wild and sweet," and it has a hypnotic effect on the speaker.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the singing-woman. The second stanza describes the effect of the woman's song on the speaker, and the third stanza concludes the poem with a reflection on the power of the woman's song.

The first stanza begins with a description of the woods. The speaker describes the "deep, cool, green" woods and the "dappled sunlight" that filters through the trees. The woods are described as a place of peace and solitude, where one can escape from the noise and chaos of the world.

The second line of the stanza introduces the singing-woman. She is described as "wild and sweet," and her song is said to be "strange and fleet." The woman is not described in detail, but her song is given a prominent place in the poem. The third line of the stanza describes the effect of the woman's song on the speaker. The speaker is drawn to the woman's song, and she feels a sense of longing and desire.

The second stanza continues the narrative of the poem. The speaker describes how she follows the sound of the woman's song through the woods. The woman's song is described as a "thread of sound" that leads the speaker deeper into the woods. The speaker is entranced by the woman's song, and she feels as if she is being drawn into a dream.

The third stanza concludes the poem with a reflection on the power of the woman's song. The speaker describes how the woman's song has the power to transport her to another world. The woman's song is said to be "older than the world," and it has the power to "make the mountains dance" and "shake the sky." The speaker is left in awe of the woman's song, and she realizes that it has the power to transform her.

The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Edna St. Vincent Millay's mastery of language and form. The poem is a narrative that tells the story of a woman who sings in the woods. The woman's song is described as "wild and sweet," and it has a hypnotic effect on the speaker.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with six lines. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the singing-woman. The second stanza describes the effect of the woman's song on the speaker, and the third stanza concludes the poem with a reflection on the power of the woman's song.

The poem is notable for its use of language and imagery. Millay's use of language is simple and direct, but it is also rich and evocative. The poem is full of vivid images that bring the woods and the singing-woman to life. The woods are described as "deep, cool, green," and the singing-woman's song is said to be "strange and fleet." These images create a sense of mystery and enchantment that draws the reader into the poem.

The poem is also notable for its use of form. The poem is written in a traditional form, with three stanzas of six lines each. The use of this form gives the poem a sense of structure and balance. The repetition of the six-line stanzas creates a sense of rhythm and flow that mirrors the rhythm of the woman's song.

In conclusion, The Singing-Woman From The Wood's Edge is a masterpiece of poetry that showcases Edna St. Vincent Millay's mastery of language and form. The poem is a narrative that tells the story of a woman who sings in the woods. The woman's song is described as "wild and sweet," and it has a hypnotic effect on the speaker. The poem is notable for its use of language and imagery, as well as its use of form. The poem is a testament to Millay's skill as a poet and her ability to create works of art that are both beautiful and meaningful.

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