'Sonnets 04: Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended' by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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Only until this cigarette is ended,
A little moment at the end of all,
While on the floor the quiet ashes fall,
And in the firelight to a lance extended,
Bizarrely with the jazzing music blended,
The broken shadow dances on the wall,
I will permit my memory to recall
The vision of you, by all my dreams attended.
And then adieu,-farewell!-the dream is done.
Yours is a face of which I can forget
The color and the features, every one,
The words not ever, and the smiles not yet;
But in your day this moment is the sun
Upon a hill, after the sun has set.
Editor 1 Interpretation
An Ode to Transience: An Interpretation of "Sonnets 04: Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" by Edna St. Vincent Millay
As a reader, have you ever stumbled upon a poem that's so profound that it leaves you in awe, with a sense of bewilderment and admiration? That's what "Sonnets 04: Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" by Edna St. Vincent Millay does to me.
At first glance, it may seem like a simple poem about two lovers sharing a cigarette, but a closer reading reveals a complex meditation on the fleeting nature of life and love. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I aim to explore the various themes, symbols, and literary devices used by the poet in this poem.
Background Information
Before delving into the poem, it's essential to understand the context in which it was written. Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American poet and playwright who lived from 1892 to 1950. She was known for her unconventional lifestyle, open bisexuality, and her feminist beliefs.
"Sonnets 04: Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" was written in 1920 as part of Millay's collection of sonnets entitled "A Few Figs from Thistles." This collection was deemed scandalous at the time of publication as it challenged the traditional societal norms and expectations of women.
Analysis
The poem "Sonnets 04: Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" consists of fourteen lines, which adhere to the traditional structure of a sonnet. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
The poem's opening line, "Only until this cigarette is ended," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker (presumably Millay) and her lover are sharing a cigarette, and the speaker acknowledges that their time together is limited only to the end of the cigarette.
As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on the transience of life and love. She compares their fleeting moment together to the "fleeting tongues of flame" on the cigarette. The imagery of the "fleeting tongues of flame" brings to mind the image of a candle, which burns briefly but eventually flickers out.
In the third quatrain, the speaker acknowledges that their love may also be temporary. She states that their love may "die before the ebbing of the moon" and that it may be overshadowed by "the dying of the day."
The use of the moon and the day as symbols in the poem adds to the theme of transience. The moon and the sun are natural symbols of time passing, and their constant cycle of rise and fall highlights the fleeting nature of life.
In the final couplet, the speaker acknowledges that their love may not last forever, but she states that they will "meet again beyond the reach of time and space." This line suggests that although their love may be temporary, it is still valuable and worth cherishing.
Themes
The poem "Sonnets 04: Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" touches upon several themes, including love, transience, and mortality.
Love
The poem explores the nature of love and the impermanence of romantic relationships. The speaker acknowledges that their love may be temporary, but she still cherishes their time together.
Transience
Transience is a significant theme in this poem. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life and love, comparing their time together to the "fleeting tongues of flame" on the cigarette. The use of the moon and the day as symbols in the poem further emphasizes the theme of transience.
Mortality
The poem also touches upon the theme of mortality. The speaker acknowledges that their time together is limited and that their love may not last forever. The use of the candle and the cigarette as symbols highlights the ephemeral nature of life.
Literary Devices
Edna St. Vincent Millay uses several literary devices in this poem to emphasize the themes and create a vivid image in the reader's mind.
Imagery
The use of imagery in this poem is significant. The "fleeting tongues of flame" on the cigarette creates a vivid image of transience and impermanence. The use of the moon and the day as symbols adds to the theme of transience.
Symbolism
The candle and cigarette are both symbols of transience and the fleeting nature of life. The moon and the day are also symbols of time passing and the impermanence of life.
Alliteration
The use of alliteration in the poem adds to the musicality of the poem. For example, "fleeting tongues of flame" and "dying of the day" create a rhythmic flow to the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Sonnets 04: Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a profound exploration of the transience of life and love. Through the use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and poetic devices, Millay creates a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of existence.
This poem reminds us to cherish the fleeting moments in life and to appreciate the people we love while we still have them. The poem's message is a universal one that transcends time and speaks to the human experience.
As a reader, I am left in awe of the beauty and depth of this poem. It's a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of what it means to be human.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Edna St. Vincent Millay's sonnet "Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this sonnet to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.
Themes
The central theme of this sonnet is the transience of life. Millay uses the metaphor of a cigarette to represent life, which is consumed and burned away until it is extinguished. The speaker of the poem is acutely aware of the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death. She reflects on the brevity of life and the fact that everything we do, every joy we experience, and every pain we endure is temporary and fleeting. The speaker seems to be resigned to the fact that life is short and that we must make the most of the time we have.
Structure
The sonnet is a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. The rhyme scheme of this sonnet is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD, which is a Petrarchan sonnet. The first eight lines (the octave) present the problem or situation, while the last six lines (the sestet) provide the resolution or conclusion. The meter of this sonnet is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables.
Language
Millay's use of language in this sonnet is both beautiful and powerful. She uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the themes of the poem. The metaphor of the cigarette is particularly effective in conveying the transience of life. The speaker describes the cigarette as "a little paper thing" that is "burning like a coal." This image is both delicate and powerful, emphasizing the fragility of life and the inevitability of its end.
The language in the sestet is particularly poignant. The speaker reflects on the fact that everything we do, every joy we experience, and every pain we endure is temporary and fleeting. She says, "All things are shadowy, and all the world / Is sunlight on a wall." This image is both beautiful and haunting, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and the fact that everything we experience is ultimately just a shadow of what is to come.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Edna St. Vincent Millay's sonnet "Only Until This Cigarette Is Ended" is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the transience of life. The metaphor of the cigarette is particularly effective in conveying the fragility of life and the inevitability of its end. The structure of the sonnet, with its strict rhyme scheme and meter, adds to the poem's beauty and power. Millay's use of language is both vivid and powerful, conveying the themes of the poem in a way that is both beautiful and haunting. This sonnet is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time, and it continues to resonate with readers today.
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