What's this of Death?

Name: What's this of Death?
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores the theme of mortality and the relationship between the creator and the created. It begins with a rhetorical question directed at death, challenging its inevitability and questioning the permanence of the physical body. The speaker reflects on the artistry involved in creation, emphasizing the skill and intention behind the formation of a human being. The imagery of the body being crafted from clay suggests a divine or artistic process, highlighting the beauty and complexity of life. The speaker asserts that the essence of a person, particularly one of great beauty or significance, cannot simply be reduced to dust or ashes. Instead, the legacy of such individuals will endure beyond their physical demise. The poem suggests that the creator, whether divine or human, will not allow the beauty and significance of their creation to be forgotten. The notion of casting beauty in bronze symbolizes the desire for immortality through art and memory. The speaker posits that the true essence of a person will be preserved and celebrated, serving as a testament to the creator's skill and the value of the created. Ultimately, the work grapples with the tension between the transient nature of life and the enduring impact of beauty and artistry. It conveys a sense of defiance against the finality of death, asserting that true beauty transcends physical existence and will be immortalized through remembrance and art.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1920 · Genre: Poetry, Philosophical, Lyric · 143 words

First lines

What's this of death, from you who never will die?

Think you the wrist that fashioned you in clay, The thumb that set the hollow just that way

In your full throat and lidded the long eye

So roundly from the forehead, will let lie

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What's this of Death? is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1920 CE.

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Work type: Poem
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1920 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Philosophical, Lyric, Romanticism, Elegy
Length: 143 words
Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of mortality and the permanence of beauty.
Philosophical — The poem engages with existential questions about death and legacy.
Lyric — The personal and emotional tone reflects the lyric genre, focusing on individual experience and feelings.
Romanticism — The emphasis on beauty and nature aligns with Romantic ideals.