Desolation Dreamed Of

Name: Desolation Dreamed Of
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of longing, isolation, and the tension between desire for escape and the inescapability of one's reality. The speaker expresses a yearning for desolation, a state of being that remains unfulfilled. This desire creates an emotional turmoil, likened to a boat rocking in turbulent waters. The imagery of nature, such as green rollers and a clean beach, symbolizes a distant ideal or refuge, an island representing peace and solitude. The speaker's farewell to the faces encountered suggests a rejection of societal norms and the superficiality of human interactions. There is a clear disdain for the trappings of civilization, indicated by references to "painted nails" and "shaven arm-pits," which symbolize the artifice of social appearances. The speaker's wish to distance themselves from the "noise and stench of man" underscores a profound disconnection from humanity and a desire for a more authentic existence. Despite this longing for solitude, the speaker grapples with the realization that true escape is unattainable. The rhetorical question about whom they have quitted reveals an internal conflict; they cannot abandon their possessions or the self that is intertwined with their experiences. The acknowledgment that the act of feigning sleep while awake is the only form of loneliness they can achieve highlights a sense of resignation. The poem ultimately conveys a struggle between the desire for freedom and the constraints of reality, illustrating the complexity of human emotions and the paradox of seeking solitude in a world that is inescapable.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1934 · Genre: Poetry, Modernist, Lyrical · 133 words

First lines

Desolation dreamed of, though not accomplished, Set my heart to rocking like a boat in a swell.

To every face I met, I said farewell.

Green rollers breaking white along a clean beach. when shall I reach that island?

Gladly, O painted nails and shaven arm-pits, would I see less of you!

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Desolation Dreamed Of is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1934 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1934 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Modernist, Lyrical, Existential, Romanticism
Length: 133 words
Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
Modernist — The themes of disillusionment and existential reflection align with modernist literature.
Lyrical — The personal and emotional expression throughout the text characterizes it as lyrical.
Existential — The exploration of loneliness and the search for meaning reflects existential themes.