Rosemary by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Name: Rosemary
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem reflects on nostalgia and the remnants of the past, expressing a longing for things that have faded away. The speaker engages in various domestic activities as a means of honoring memories and lost experiences. The act of strew rushes and planting bergamot symbolizes a connection to simpler, more vibrant times. The imagery of setting a barrel to catch rain and hanging an iron pot evokes a sense of practicality intertwined with sentimentality. The speaker acknowledges the passage of time and the inevitability of change, recognizing that many once-vibrant aspects of life are now gone. Despite this loss, there is a determination to preserve the essence of those memories through small, meaningful actions. The use of archaic phrases like "An it please you, gentle sirs" and "Alack! and Well-a-day!" suggests a yearning for a bygone era, emphasizing the contrast between past joys and present realities. Overall, the work encapsulates themes of memory, loss, and the desire to maintain a connection to the past through tangible gestures, illustrating the interplay between nostalgia and the acceptance of change.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1930 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism · 176 words

First lines

For the sake of some things That be now no more

I will strew rushes On my chamber-floor,

I will plant bergamot At my kitchen-door.

For the sake of dim things That were once so plain

What this Textopian page supports

Rosemary is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1930 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

Work type: Short story
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1930 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism, Modernism, Nature Writing
Length: 176 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Rosemary 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 Rosemary?
How does this short story 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 written in verse and employs poetic devices, focusing on themes of memory and nostalgia.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — The themes of nature, emotion, and individual experience align with Romantic literary ideals.
Modernism — The poem's exploration of memory and the passage of time reflects modernist concerns.