Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay
The poem explores themes of longing, adventure, and the desire for escape. The speaker reflects on the presence of trains, symbolizing journeys and the allure of travel, despite their physical absence. The imagery of the railroad track and the sounds of trains evoke a sense of yearning for movement and exploration. The speaker acknowledges the warmth of friendships and connections made in their current environment, yet expresses a deep-seated desire to embark on a journey, regardless of the destination. This juxtaposition highlights a tension between contentment in relationships and an insatiable wanderlust. As the poem progresses, the speaker's imagination takes flight, envisioning the possibilities that travel could bring. The trains represent not just physical movement but also emotional and spiritual journeys. The longing for adventure is palpable, suggesting that the act of traveling is intertwined with personal growth and discovery. Ultimately, the work encapsulates the universal human desire to explore the unknown, to break free from the confines of daily life, and to embrace the thrill of new experiences. The speaker's willingness to take any train, regardless of its destination, underscores a profound openness to life's possibilities and the transformative power of travel.
By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1912 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism · 154 words
First lines
The railroad track is miles away, And the day is loud with voices speaking,
Yet there isn't a train goes by all day But I hear its whistle shrieking.
All night there isn't a train goes by, Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming,
But I see its cinders red on the sky, And hear its engine steaming.
What this Textopian page supports
Travel is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1912 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
- Date: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism, Lyrical, Travel Literature
- Length: 154 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Travel by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- Long Trip by Langston Hughes
- Afterwards by Helen Hay Whitney
- Up A Little Road by Helen Hay Whitney
- And Yet by Helen Hay Whitney
- In Exile by John Gould Fletcher
- Wine From These Grapes by Edna St Vincent Millay
Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that employs lyrical language and explores themes of travel and longing.
- Romanticism — The poem reflects romantic ideals, emphasizing emotion, nature, and personal experience.
- Modernism — The poem's structure and themes align with modernist explorations of individual perception and experience.
- Lyrical — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyrical poetry.
Tags
Poetry · Travelogue · Autobiographical · Memoir · Literary Nonfiction · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Feminist Literature · Coming of Age · Self-Discovery · Identity · Culture Shock
More by Edna St. Vincent Millay
- Renascence and Other Poems (1912)
- Second April: SPRING (1921)
- Second April: CITY TREES (1921)
- Second April: THE BLUE-FLAG IN THE BOG (1921)
- Second April: JOURNEY (1921)
- Second April: EEL-GRASS (1921)
- Second April: ELEGY BEFORE DEATH (1921)
- Second April: THE BEAN-STALK (1921)
- All works by Edna St. Vincent Millay