As Men have Loved

Name: As Men have Loved
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem reflects on the theme of love, particularly the love for justice, paralleling it with the romantic love men have historically expressed. It begins by acknowledging the admiration and reverence men have shown towards their lovers, drawing a connection to the speaker's devotion to justice, which is now diminished and disrespected. The imagery of a child growing wise and appreciating beauty suggests a loss of innocence and the fleeting nature of beauty itself, emphasizing that true beauty, represented by justice, is no longer visible to humanity. The poem continues with a metaphor of birds migrating south for warmth, symbolizing those who abandon justice in favor of more favorable conditions. The speaker asserts their commitment to defending the truth of justice's existence, even in death, and expresses a fierce determination to confront anyone who denies this reality. The tone is one of defiance and loyalty, underscoring the importance of justice in the face of its decline and the speaker's resolve to honor its memory. The work ultimately serves as a poignant reminder of the value of justice and the need to uphold it against the tides of indifference and neglect.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1933 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Elegy · 136 words

First lines

As men have loved their lovers in times past

And sung their wit, their virtue and their grace, So have we loved sweet Justice to the last, Who now lies here in an unseemly place. The child will quit the cradle and grow wise

And stare on beauty till his senses drown; Yet shall be seen no more by mortal eyes

Such beauty as here walked and here went down.

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As Men have Loved is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1933 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1933 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism, Social Commentary
Length: 136 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 themes of love, justice, and beauty through lyrical language.
Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Elegy — The poem mourns the loss of justice, fitting the elegiac tradition of lamenting the dead.
Romanticism — The themes of beauty and emotional depth align with Romantic ideals.