Oh, my Beloved

Name: Oh, my Beloved
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of love, time, and mortality. It reflects on the inevitable passage of time and its impact on a romantic relationship. The speaker addresses their beloved, contemplating the future where time will age them, separating them from their current youthful passion. The imagery evokes a sense of urgency and poignancy, as the speaker acknowledges the fleeting nature of their shared moments. The speaker expresses a deep emotional connection, highlighting the contrast between their present joy and the looming reality of aging and loss. The relationship is portrayed as a shared journey to an "immortal height," suggesting that their love transcends ordinary experiences. However, the inevitability of time's cruelty is emphasized, as it will ultimately lead to separation and the fading of their vibrant connection. The poem captures the tension between the beauty of love and the sorrow of its impermanence. The speaker's reflections reveal a profound awareness of the fragility of life and the bittersweet nature of love, as they grapple with the knowledge that their passionate moments are temporary. The closing lines evoke a sense of shared anguish, underscoring the emotional weight of their bond and the pain of potential loss. Overall, the work is a meditation on love's intensity and the relentless march of time, leaving the reader with a sense of both beauty and melancholy.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 144 words

First lines

Oh, my beloved, have you thought of this:

How in the years to come unscrupulous Time, More cruel than Death, will tear you from my kiss, And make you old, and leave me in my prime?

How you and I, who scale together yet

A little while the sweet, immortal height

What this Textopian page supports

Oh, my Beloved is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1920 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: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Modernism, Philosophical
Length: 144 words
Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Oh, my Beloved by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
Readability and classroom-planning context
Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

What should a reader notice first when entering Oh, my Beloved?
How does this poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of love, time, and mortality, characteristic of Millay's lyrical style.
Romanticism — The poem embodies romantic themes, focusing on deep emotional connections and the beauty of love.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry.
Modernism — The poem reflects modernist concerns with time and existential themes.