Oh, Think not I am Faithful to a Vow!

Name: Oh, Think not I am Faithful to a Vow!
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of love, fidelity, and desire through a speaker's candid reflection on their relationship. The speaker asserts a lack of commitment to any vow, claiming that their loyalty is solely to the experience of love itself. They express that if their beloved were not captivating, they would easily abandon them for someone else. The speaker acknowledges the beloved's beauty and allure, which they find irresistible and essential to their own emotional and physical needs. The imagery of beauty is central, with the beloved compared to elements of nature, such as air and tides, emphasizing their ever-changing and elusive qualities. This fluidity in the beloved's character allows the speaker to justify their own inconstancy, suggesting that their faithfulness is contingent upon the beloved's charm. The speaker's love is portrayed as both passionate and fickle, revealing a complex interplay between desire and commitment. Ultimately, the poem presents a paradox where the speaker feels most unfaithful when they are most devoted, highlighting the tension between genuine affection and the transient nature of attraction. The exploration of these dynamics raises questions about the nature of love and the expectations of fidelity within romantic relationships.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1921 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Modernist Poetry · 151 words

First lines

Oh, think not I am faithful to a vow!

Faithless am I save to love's self alone. Were you not lovely I would leave you now:

After the feet of beauty fly my own. Were you not still my hunger's rarest food, And water ever to my wildest thirst, I would desert you-think not but I would! -

And seek another as I sought you first. But you are mobile as the veering air, And all your charms more changeful than the tide, Wherefore to be inconstant is no care:

What this Textopian page supports

Oh, Think not I am Faithful to a Vow! is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1921 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: 1921 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Romantic Poetry, Modernist Poetry, Confessional Poetry, Narrative Poetry
Length: 151 words
Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romantic Poetry — Themes of love, beauty, and emotional conflict align with the Romantic genre.
Modernist Poetry — The poem's exploration of complex emotions and individualism reflects Modernist tendencies.
Confessional Poetry — The intimate and personal nature of the speaker's feelings suggests elements of confessional poetry.