Not only Love Plus Awful Grief

Name: Not only Love Plus Awful Grief
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the complex interplay between love and grief, emphasizing the enduring pain experienced by those left behind after a loved one's death. The speaker reflects on the intensity of their emotions, acknowledging that love is intertwined with profound sorrow. The imagery of "buried brief" and "propping laurel-leaf" suggests a struggle to honor the memory of the deceased while grappling with the weight of loss. The speaker expresses a desire to be free from the haunting presence of the lost loved one, indicating that the memories have become burdensome. The "iron sheaf of bundled memories" symbolizes how grief can constrict the mind, making it difficult to move forward. The plea for the "bright ghost" to be gracious and depart highlights the tension between cherishing memories and the need for emotional release. Ultimately, the work captures the duality of love and grief, illustrating how the remnants of affection can complicate the healing process. The speaker longs for a return to a world unclouded by sorrow, suggesting that while love is cherished, the pain of loss can overshadow the beauty of those memories.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1931 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism · 109 words

First lines

Not only love plus awful grief, The ardent and consuming pain

Of all who loved and who remain

To tend alone the buried brief

Eternal, propping laurel-leaf

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Not only Love Plus Awful Grief is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1931 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1931 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism, Elegy
Length: 109 words
Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of love and grief through lyrical expression.
Lyric Poetry — The poem conveys personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — The themes of intense emotion and individual experience align with Romantic literary ideals.
Modernism — The poem's introspective nature and focus on personal experience reflect modernist tendencies.