The Cameo by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Name: The Cameo
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem reflects on a moment frozen in time, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loss. It describes a serene coastal scene featuring a lighthouse, a cove, and a boat, symbolizing a past relationship marked by innocence and youthful passion. The imagery of a young woman and a man engaged in earnest conversation suggests a deep emotional connection, yet the tone conveys a sense of finality and separation. As the speaker contemplates this memory, it becomes clear that the relationship has been irrevocably altered by time and circumstance. The vividness of the scene contrasts with the emotional distance that has developed, illustrating how love can transform into something cold and distant, akin to a precious stone. The use of "cameo" signifies both the beauty and the fragility of the moment, encapsulating it in a way that highlights its permanence while acknowledging its inaccessibility. The poem explores themes of memory, the passage of time, and the bittersweet nature of love. The speaker grapples with the pain of lost words and feelings, which have been "discarded" like remnants of a once-vibrant connection. The imagery of the natural elements—the waves, cliffs, and the jewel-like quality of the memory—serves to emphasize the contrast between the enduring beauty of the past and the sorrow of its absence. Ultimately, the work captures the essence of a love that has been idealized yet irrevocably changed, leaving the speaker to reflect on the permanence of memory and the inevitability of loss. The final lines reinforce the idea that while the emotional connection may have faded, the memory remains, preserved like a cameo, both beautiful and haunting.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1912 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 207 words

First lines

Forever over now, forever, forever gone That day. Clear and diminished like a scene

Carven in cameo, the lighthouse, and the cove between The sandy cliffs, and the boat drawn up on the beach;

And the long skirt of a lady innocent and young, Her hand resting on her bosom, her head hung;

And the figure of a man in earnest speech.

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The Cameo is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1912 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1912 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Modernism, Imagism
Length: 207 words
Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
Romanticism — Themes of love, nostalgia, and emotional depth are prevalent throughout the poem.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Modernism — The poem reflects modernist themes of memory and the passage of time.