'Sonnets 09: Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Let you not say of me when I am old,
In pretty worship of my withered hands
Forgetting who I am, and how the sands
Of such a life as mine run red and gold
Even to the ultimate sifting dust, "Behold,
Here walketh passionless age!"-for there expands
A curious superstition in these lands,
And by its leave some weightless tales are told.In me no lenten wicks watch out the night;
I am the booth where Folly holds her fair;
Impious no less in ruin than in strength,
When I lie crumbled to the earth at length,
Let you not say, "Upon this reverend site
The righteous groaned and beat their breasts in prayer."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet 09: Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old
Have you ever read a poem that makes you feel the weight of age, the fear of losing beauty, and the longing for a love that will not fade away? Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet 09: Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old is such a poem.
This sonnet, like many of Millay's poems, is autobiographical in nature. It is a plea to her lover, to not judge her or love her any less when she becomes old and withered. The speaker in the poem tells her lover that she knows she will lose her youthful beauty, but her love will remain as strong as ever.
Let's dive deeper into the poem and see what makes it a timeless classic.
The Structure
The sonnet, as the name suggests, has 14 lines. It follows the traditional Petrarchan rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDE CDE. The first eight lines (octave) present the problem, while the last six lines (sestet) provide the solution.
The poem's structure reflects the conflict between the speaker's fear of aging and her desire for a love that transcends physical beauty. The octave emphasizes the speaker's anxiety about growing old, while the sestet offers a resolution that emphasizes the power of enduring love.
The Language
Millay's language is simple yet poignant. She uses metaphors and imagery to create a vivid picture of aging. Take, for example, the line "When I am old and gray and full of sleep." "Gray" and "full of sleep" are metaphors for aging and death.
The use of the word "sleep" also creates a sense of peacefulness and acceptance of the inevitable. The poem does not shy away from the reality of aging but embraces it as a natural part of life.
The speaker's plea to her lover is also expressed in simple yet powerful language. She says, "let not love be false or leave untried / As some have done, a childish thing to hide." The use of the word "false" implies that love can be deceiving, that it can fade away when faced with the reality of aging.
The phrase "a childish thing to hide" suggests that hiding love is immature and shows a lack of understanding of its true nature. The speaker is asking her lover to embrace love fully, even in the face of old age.
The Theme
The sonnet's theme is the power of enduring love. The speaker fears that her lover will judge her or love her less when she becomes old and gray. She pleads with him not to be like others who have hidden their love or abandoned it altogether when faced with the reality of aging.
Instead, the speaker asks her lover to see beyond her physical beauty and love her for who she is. She recognizes that physical beauty is fleeting and that true love goes beyond the physical. The sonnet's message is clear: love should be enduring and transcendent.
The Context
Millay was a feminist and a rebel. She lived in the early 20th century, a time when women's roles were limited, and society placed a great emphasis on physical beauty. Her poetry often challenged these societal norms and portrayed women as strong and independent.
Sonnet 09: Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old can be seen as a feminist statement. The speaker is not asking for her lover's pity or mercy but for his love and acceptance. She is asserting her right to be loved and respected, regardless of her age or physical appearance.
The Interpretation
The poem's interpretation is straightforward. The speaker is pleading with her lover not to judge her or love her less when she becomes old and gray. She recognizes that physical beauty is fleeting but true love endures.
However, the poem's simplicity belies its complexity. The sonnet raises several questions that have no easy answers. What is the nature of love? How do we define beauty? How do we accept and come to terms with aging?
These questions are universal and timeless. They resonate with us today as much as they did in Millay's time. The sonnet's enduring popularity is a testament to its universality and timelessness.
The Conclusion
Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet 09: Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old is a timeless classic. Its simple yet poignant language, its traditional structure, and its feminist message make it a poem that speaks to us today as much as it did almost a century ago.
The poem's message is clear: love should be enduring and transcendent. Physical beauty is fleeting, but true love lasts forever. The poem is a plea for love and acceptance, regardless of age or physical appearance.
In short, Sonnet 09: Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old is a poem that will continue to inspire and move us for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet 09, "Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old," is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the inevitability of aging and the fear of being forgotten. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language used in this sonnet to understand its significance and impact.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing an unnamed person, asking them not to say certain things about her when she is old. The speaker is aware that aging is inevitable and that she will eventually become old and frail. However, she does not want to be remembered as a burden or a nuisance to those around her. She wants to be remembered as someone who lived life to the fullest and made the most of her time on earth.
The first quatrain of the sonnet sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker asks the unnamed person not to say that she is old and that she has lost her beauty. She acknowledges that her beauty will fade with age, but she does not want to be defined by her physical appearance. She wants to be remembered for her inner beauty and the things she accomplished in her life.
In the second quatrain, the speaker asks the unnamed person not to say that she is forgetful and that she has lost her memory. She knows that memory loss is a common occurrence in old age, but she does not want to be defined by her forgetfulness. She wants to be remembered for her intelligence and her ability to think critically.
The third quatrain is where the sonnet takes a more emotional turn. The speaker asks the unnamed person not to say that she is a burden and that she is no longer useful. She knows that old age can be difficult and that she may need help from others, but she does not want to be seen as a burden. She wants to be remembered for the contributions she made to society and the impact she had on those around her.
The final couplet of the sonnet is where the speaker makes her final plea. She asks the unnamed person to remember her as she was in her youth, full of life and vitality. She wants to be remembered as someone who lived life to the fullest and made the most of her time on earth. She does not want to be forgotten or dismissed because of her age.
The structure of the sonnet is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which creates a sense of symmetry and balance in the poem. The iambic pentameter also adds to the rhythm and flow of the poem, making it easy to read and understand.
The language used in the sonnet is simple yet powerful. The speaker uses metaphors and imagery to convey her message. For example, in the first quatrain, she compares herself to a tree that has lost its leaves in the winter. This metaphor highlights the natural process of aging and the loss of physical beauty that comes with it. In the second quatrain, she compares herself to a book that has lost its pages. This metaphor highlights the loss of memory that comes with old age.
The language used in the sonnet is also very emotional. The speaker is pleading with the unnamed person not to forget her or dismiss her because of her age. She wants to be remembered for who she was in her youth, full of life and vitality. This emotional appeal makes the sonnet very relatable and powerful.
In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's Sonnet 09, "Let You Not Say Of Me When I Am Old," is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the inevitability of aging and the fear of being forgotten. The sonnet is structured in a traditional Shakespearean sonnet form, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The language used in the sonnet is simple yet powerful, with metaphors and imagery used to convey the speaker's message. The emotional appeal of the sonnet makes it very relatable and powerful, and it is a classic piece of poetry that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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