Loving you Less than Life

Name: Loving you Less than Life
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the complex emotions surrounding love and attachment. The speaker grapples with the intensity of their feelings, admitting a struggle between love and the desire to distance themselves. The imagery evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing, as the speaker reflects on the memories associated with the beloved. The juxtaposition of love with elements of nature, such as autumn and smoke, highlights the bittersweet nature of their emotions. The speaker acknowledges the inevitability of their thoughts returning to the beloved, suggesting that love persists despite attempts to suppress it. Ultimately, the poem conveys a sense of resignation to the power of love, revealing that the speaker's feelings are undeniable, regardless of their attempts to downplay them.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1931 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism · 131 words

First lines

Loving you less than life, a little less

Than bitter-sweet upon a broken wall

Or brush-wood smoke in autumn, I confess

I cannot swear I love you not at all.

What this Textopian page supports

Loving you Less than Life is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1931 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1931 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism, Lyric Poetry, Love Poetry
Length: 131 words
Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores complex emotions and relationships through lyrical language.
Romanticism — The themes of love and emotional conflict align with the characteristics of Romantic literature.
Modernism — The poem's introspective nature and exploration of personal feelings reflect modernist themes.
Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.