Peril Upon the Paths

Name: Peril Upon the Paths
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of desire, danger, and the complexities of love. It presents a landscape where the pursuit of desire is fraught with peril, likening it to the darkness of night that can be both alluring and frightening. The speaker addresses those who are easily frightened, suggesting that the path of desire is not for the faint-hearted. The imagery of roses, which can either be beautiful or withered, symbolizes the duality of love and attraction. The speaker invites only those who are unafraid of the shadows and uncertainties of desire to join her. The longing in the eye and the fever in the vein represent the intense emotions that accompany passionate love, contrasting with the potential for pain and rejection. The poem ultimately emphasizes the need for courage in the face of desire, suggesting that true beauty and fulfillment come with the acceptance of risk and the acknowledgment of the darker aspects of love. The speaker stands as a sentinel, guarding against the dangers of scorn and rejection, while simultaneously embracing the complexities of beauty and desire.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1942 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Symbolism · 139 words

First lines

Peril upon the paths of this desire Lies like the natural darkness of the night, For me unpeopled; let him hence retire

Whom as a child a shadow could affright; And fortune speed him from this dubious place

Where roses blenched or blackened of their hue, Pallid and stemless float on undulant space, Or clustered hidden shock the hand with dew.

Whom as a child the night's obscurity

What this Textopian page supports

Peril Upon the Paths is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1942 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1942 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Symbolism, Modernism, Lyrical
Length: 139 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of desire and beauty.
Romanticism — The themes of longing and beauty reflect the ideals of Romanticism, emphasizing emotional depth and nature.
Symbolism — The use of imagery and metaphor suggests deeper meanings, characteristic of Symbolist literature.
Modernism — The exploration of complex emotions and subjective experience aligns with Modernist themes.