The Last White Sawdust

Name: The Last White Sawdust
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem reflects on themes of illness, memory, and the passage of time. It opens with a stark image of a once vibrant space now dulled by the presence of illness, symbolized by the gray sawdust on the floor. The setting is marked by the contrast between the external world, where rain falls steadily, and the internal experience of the speaker, who is caught in a moment of reflection. The imagery evokes a sense of nostalgia, as the speaker recalls a time of warmth and life, characterized by the sounds of summer and the vibrant presence of nature. The mention of the small bird with iridescent wings suggests fleeting beauty and the ephemeral nature of life. The juxtaposition of the lively past with the current state of illness creates a poignant tension, emphasizing the inevitability of change and decay. As the rain continues to drum on the roof, it serves as a reminder of the relentless passage of time, blurring the lines between past and present. The speaker's inability to escape the sound of the rain mirrors the inescapable reality of their situation. The poem captures a moment of stillness amidst turmoil, reflecting on the interplay between memory, nature, and the human experience of suffering.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1934 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Imagism · 135 words

First lines

The last white sawdust on the floor was grown

Gray as the first, so long had he been ill;

The axe was nodding in the block; fresh-blown

And foreign came the rain across the sill, But on the roof so steadily it drummed

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The Last White Sawdust is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1934 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1934 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Imagism, Modernism, Nature
Length: 135 words
Structure: 1 section, 12 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Imagism — The vivid imagery and focus on sensory experiences align with the principles of Imagism.
Modernism — The poem reflects modernist themes of perception and the passage of time.