When we are Old by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Name: When we are Old
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of aging. It begins with a contemplation of old age, where the once vibrant and passionate life is reduced to a mere shadow of its former self. The imagery of "frosty channels" and "muted stream" evokes a sense of loss and the fading of vitality. The speaker acknowledges that in their youth, they experienced intense emotions and desires, but as they grow older, those feelings diminish. The poem suggests that there is a certain comfort in the knowledge that their youthful passions were genuine, even if they are now distant memories. The speaker addresses a beloved, emphasizing the intimacy of their shared experiences and the bittersweet nature of their relationship as they face the realities of aging together. The mention of "heavy-lidded" and the struggle against "insolent daylight" symbolizes the tension between the desire to hold onto the past and the necessity of confronting the present. Ultimately, the work captures the essence of love and memory, highlighting the contrast between the fervor of youth and the quiet acceptance of aging. It conveys a sense of resilience, suggesting that even as they grow old, the remnants of their passionate past continue to shape their bond. The poem serves as a meditation on the beauty and sorrow of love that endures through the passage of time, urging the reader to cherish the moments of rapture while acknowledging the inevitability of change.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1928 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric · 145 words

First lines

When we are old and these rejoicing veins

Are frosty channels to a muted stream, / And out of all our burning there remains

No feeblest spark to fire us, even in dream, / This be our solace: that it was not said

When we were young and warm and in our prime, / Upon our couch we lay as lie the dead, / Sleeping away the unreturning time. O sweet, O heavy-lidded, O my love, / When morning strikes her spear upon the land, / And we must rise and arm us and reprove

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When we are Old 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: Poetry, Romanticism, Lyric, Philosophical, Modernism
Length: 145 words
Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is a poem that explores themes of aging, love, and the passage of time through lyrical language.
Romanticism — The poem reflects romantic themes of love and emotional depth, emphasizing personal experience and the beauty of relationships.
Lyric — The poem expresses personal feelings and thoughts, characteristic of lyric poetry, focusing on the speaker's emotional state.
Philosophical — The poem contemplates the nature of time and existence, prompting reflection on life and mortality.