Moon, that against the Lintel of the West

Name: Moon, that against the Lintel of the West
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of longing, nostalgia, and the passage of time through the speaker's address to the moon. The moon is personified as a figure that has witnessed the speaker's past experiences, particularly a significant romantic encounter on a hill in Caria. The speaker reflects on the bittersweet nature of memories associated with love, expressing a desire to escape the burdens of the present and return to a moment of intimacy. The imagery evokes a sense of yearning as the speaker recalls the beauty of the past, contrasting it with the inevitability of dawn and the end of night, symbolizing the end of cherished moments. The moon serves as a witness to these memories, and the speaker implores it to delay the arrival of dawn, highlighting the tension between the desire to hold onto the past and the reality of moving forward. The poem captures the essence of human experience—love, loss, and the relentless march of time—while invoking a celestial presence that embodies both beauty and melancholy. The speaker's plea to the moon reflects a deep emotional connection to the memories of love, underscoring the universal struggle to reconcile the past with the present.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1920 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Imagism · 152 words

First lines

Moon, that against the lintel of the west

Your forehead lean until the gate be swung, Longing to leave the world and be at rest, Being worn with faring and no longer young, Do you recall at all the Carian hill

Where worn with loving, loving late you lay, Halting the sun because you lingered still, While wondering candles lit the Carian day? Ah, if indeed this memory to your mind

Recall some sweet employment, pity me, That with the dawn must leave my love behind, That even now the dawn's dim herald see! I charge you, goddess, in the name of one

What this Textopian page supports

Moon, that against the Lintel of the West is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1920 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Imagism, Nature Poetry, Philosophical Poetry
Length: 152 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — Themes of longing and love reflect the ideals of Romanticism.
Imagism — The vivid imagery and focus on specific moments align with Imagist principles.
Nature Poetry — The poem's references to the moon and natural elements highlight a connection to nature.