Well, I have Lost You
The poem explores themes of love, loss, and acceptance. The speaker acknowledges the end of a significant relationship, expressing a sense of pride in the decision to let go. The tone is reflective, revealing a mix of sorrow and strength. The speaker admits to moments of vulnerability, yet emphasizes the importance of freedom over confinement in love. The speaker contemplates the nature of their love, suggesting that had they been less honest or manipulative, they might have prolonged the relationship. However, they value authenticity and the depth of their previous connection more than a fleeting summer of companionship. Ultimately, the speaker expresses a hope for future peace, indicating that if they survive the pain of loss, they will remember the relationship fondly. The work encapsulates the complexity of human emotions tied to love and the bittersweet nature of letting go.
By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1931 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism · 145 words
First lines
Well, I have lost you; and I lost you fairly; In my own way, and with my full consent. Say what you will, kings in a tumbrel rarely
Went to their deaths more proud than this one
Some nights of apprehension and hot weeping
I will confess; but that's permitted me; Day dried my eyes; I was not one for keeping
What this Textopian page supports
Well, I have Lost You is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1931 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: 1931 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric, Romanticism, Modernism, Confessional
- Length: 145 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Well, I have Lost You 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
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- O Ailing Love by Edna St Vincent Millay
- Departure by Edna St Vincent Millay
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- To The Not Impossible Him by Edna St Vincent Millay
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of love, loss, and emotional reflection.
- Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and emotions, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Romanticism — The themes of love and individual emotion align with Romantic literary traditions.
- Modernism — The introspective style and focus on personal experience reflect modernist influences.
Tags
Poetry · Love · Loss · Heartbreak · Grief · Longing · Separation · Pain · Sorrow · Regret · Memory · Nostalgia
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