Sorrowful Dreams

Name: Sorrowful Dreams
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the profound impact of sorrowful dreams on the speaker's waking life. It begins with the recollection of dreams that linger after waking, casting a shadow over the day. The emotional weight of these dreams is palpable, as the speaker experiences an involuntary outpouring of tears while reading, indicating a deep connection between memory and grief. The speaker reflects on the nature of grief, suggesting that some sorrows are more burdensome than those caused by external circumstances. This internal grief is likened to a hidden pain, more challenging to endure than the visible struggles of life. The imagery of a rose losing its color symbolizes the draining effect of sorrow, while the description of the pond illustrates the contrast between surface appearances and deeper emotional realities. The pond appears tranquil and inviting, yet it conceals a darker, more complex emotional core. The poem culminates in a sense of relentless pursuit by these desolate dreams, leading to a cycle of weeping both in sleep and wakefulness. The repetition of grief emphasizes its inescapable nature, suggesting that the speaker is trapped in a loop of sorrow that permeates both their dreams and their conscious existence. The work ultimately conveys a poignant exploration of the interplay between dreams, memory, and the enduring weight of grief.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1923 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism · 140 words

First lines

Sorrowful dreams remembered after waking

Shadow with do lout all the candid day; Even as I read, the silly tears out-breaking

Splash on my hands and shut the page away. .

Grief at the root, a dark and secret dolour, Harder to bear than wind-and-weather grief, Clutching the rose, draining its cheek of colour, Drying the bud, curling the opened leaf. Deep is the pond-although the edge be shallow, Frank in the sun, revealing fish and stone, Climbing ashore to turtle-head and mallow-

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Sorrowful Dreams is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1923 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1923 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism, Existentialism
Length: 140 words
Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of grief and sorrow through lyrical expression.
Lyric Poetry — The poem conveys personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Romanticism — The themes of deep emotion and nature reflect elements of Romanticism.
Modernism — The introspective and fragmented nature of the poem aligns with Modernist themes.