Only until this Cigarette is Ended

Name: Only until this Cigarette is Ended
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of memory, longing, and the ephemeral nature of moments. The speaker reflects on a fleeting recollection of a significant person while engaged in a solitary act of smoking a cigarette. This act serves as a metaphor for the transient nature of life and relationships. As the cigarette burns down, the speaker allows themselves to reminisce about a past connection, evoking vivid imagery of firelight and shadows that symbolize both warmth and the passage of time. The act of remembering is bittersweet; it brings joy but also an acknowledgment of loss. The speaker recognizes that while they can forget physical details, the emotional impact of the relationship lingers, particularly the words and smiles that have not yet been exchanged. The poem culminates in a sense of finality, as the speaker prepares to let go of the memory once the cigarette is finished. This moment of reflection is likened to the sun setting, suggesting that while the memory is beautiful, it is also fleeting and ultimately destined to fade. The juxtaposition of light and shadow throughout the poem emphasizes the complexity of memory—how it can illuminate the past while also highlighting its impermanence.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1920 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism · 147 words

First lines

Only until this cigarette is ended, A little moment at the end of all, While on the floor the quiet ashes fall, And in the firelight to a lance extended, Bizarrely with the jazzing music blended, The broken shadow dances on the wall, I will permit my memory to recall

The vision of you, by all my dreams attended.

And then adieu,-farewell! -the dream is done.

Yours is a face of which I can forget

What this Textopian page supports

Only until this Cigarette is Ended 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, Modernism, Confessional Poetry, Imagism
Length: 147 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — Themes of love, memory, and fleeting moments align with Romantic ideals.
Modernism — The poem's structure and imagery reflect modernist experimentation with form and content.
Confessional Poetry — The intimate exploration of personal feelings and experiences is a hallmark of confessional poetry.