West Country Song by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Name: West Country Song
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of loss, nostalgia, and the passage of time through the lens of nature and personal reflection. The speaker contrasts the brightness of the sun and the uplifting song of a lark with the encroaching darkness of night, symbolizing a shift from joy to sorrow. The imagery evokes a sense of longing for what has been lost, as the speaker questions the fate of cherished memories and possessions. The speaker reminisces about simple comforts and domesticity, represented by items like thatch, wick, and tea, which signify warmth and contentment. As night falls, the atmosphere becomes more somber, filled with the scents of box and privet, suggesting a return to introspection and melancholy. The rain serves as a metaphor for cleansing or perhaps a reminder of tears, reinforcing the emotional weight of the speaker's reflections. The poem captures the tension between the vibrancy of life and the inevitability of loss, illustrating how moments of happiness can be overshadowed by the passage of time and the arrival of darkness. The speaker's questioning of whether they have left their joys "out in the rain" signifies a deeper concern about neglecting what once brought them happiness, highlighting the fragility of human experience and the enduring impact of memory.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1928 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism · 124 words

First lines

Sun came up, bigger than all my sorrow;

Lark in air so high, and his song clean through me.

Now comes night, hushing the lark in's furrow, / And the rain falls fine.

What have I done with what was dearest to me?

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West Country Song is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1928 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1928 CE
Language: English
Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism, Pastoral Poetry
Length: 124 words
Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs

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Genres

Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
Nature Poetry — The imagery of the sun, lark, and rain highlights the connection to nature.
Romanticism — Themes of personal sorrow and emotional depth align with Romantic ideals.
Modernism — The poem's introspective style and focus on individual experience reflect modernist tendencies.