Above these Cares

Name: Above these Cares
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the tension between the burdens of earthly existence and the desire for spiritual liberation. The speaker reflects on a state of calmness, likening their spirit to a swimmer at sunrise, embodying tranquility amidst the chaos of life. This imagery evokes a sense of peace, as the swimmer is aware of their surroundings yet remains detached from the cares that weigh heavily on the body. As the poem progresses, the speaker contrasts this serene state with the oppressive nature of their reality. The metaphor of being submerged in the sea illustrates the struggle against overwhelming pressures and the suffocating weight of responsibilities. The depths symbolize a place where the soul is at risk of perishing under the strain of life's demands. The speaker expresses a yearning for freedom, likening their spirit to a swimmer entangled in weeds, suggesting a struggle for liberation from the constraints of existence. The imagery of the sea serves as a dual symbol of both life and death, representing the desire to escape the burdens of the physical world while acknowledging the inherent dangers of such a pursuit. Ultimately, the work encapsulates the conflict between the desire for peace and the inescapable realities of life, portraying a journey of the spirit seeking solace above the cares that bind it. The poem invites contemplation on the nature of existence, the quest for inner tranquility, and the challenges faced in achieving it.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1941 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Modernist · 205 words

First lines

Above these cares my spirit in calm abiding Floats like a swimmer at sunrise, facing the pale sky;

Peaceful, heaved by the light infrequent lurch of the heavy wave serenely sliding Under his weightless body, aware of the wide morning, aware of the gull on the red buoy bedaubed with guano, aware of his sharp cry;

Idly athirst for the sea, as who should say: In a moment I will roll upon my mouth and drink it dry.

Painfully, under the pressure that obtains At the sea's bottom, crushing my lungs and my brains

What this Textopian page supports

Above these Cares is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1941 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1941 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Modernist, Nature, Philosophical
Length: 205 words
Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Confusing

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Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that employs vivid imagery and metaphorical language to explore themes of existential struggle and spiritual transcendence.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry, focusing on the inner experience of the speaker.
Modernist — The poem reflects modernist themes of dislocation and the search for meaning in a complex world, typical of early 20th-century literature.
Nature — Nature imagery is prevalent, with references to the sea and sky, symbolizing broader themes of freedom and confinement.