An Ancient Gesture

Name: An Ancient Gesture
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem reflects on the emotional struggles of waiting and longing, drawing parallels between the speaker's experience and that of Penelope from Greek mythology. The speaker wipes her tears on her apron, symbolizing both domesticity and sorrow. She acknowledges the fatigue of endlessly weaving and unweaving, a metaphor for the cyclical nature of hope and despair in love. The speaker contemplates the passage of time and the toll it takes on the heart, expressing a deep sense of loss and yearning for a loved one who has been absent for years. This act of crying is framed as an ancient, universal gesture of grief and longing, connecting her to Penelope, who embodies true emotional depth and resilience. The poem contrasts the speaker's genuine sorrow with Ulysses' more performative display of emotion, suggesting that while he may have learned the gesture from Penelope, his feelings lack the authenticity of her experience. The speaker's tears are a testament to her enduring love and the pain of separation, emphasizing the weight of waiting and the emotional labor involved in maintaining hope. Ultimately, the work explores themes of love, loss, and the human condition, highlighting the timeless nature of these experiences across generations. The speaker's reflection serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by those who wait for their loved ones, capturing the essence of longing and the complexity of emotional expression.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1928 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Classical Literature · 194 words

First lines

I thought, as I wiped my eyes on the corner of my apron:

Penelope did this too. And more than once: you can't keep weaving all day

And undoing it all through the night; Your arms get tired, and the back of your neck gets tight;

And along towards morning, when you think it will never be light,

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An Ancient Gesture is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1928 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1928 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Classical Literature, Feminist Literature, Modernism
Length: 194 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores emotional depth and personal reflection through lyrical language.
Literary Fiction — The themes of longing and emotional struggle are central, characteristic of literary fiction.
Classical Literature — The references to Penelope and Ulysses connect the poem to classical themes and figures.
Feminist Literature — The poem highlights the emotional labor and experiences of women, particularly through the character of Penelope.