Yet in an Hour to Come

Name: Yet in an Hour to Come
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay

The poem explores themes of mortality, desire, and the inevitability of death. It begins with a confrontation between the speaker and the concept of death, personified as "disdainful dust." The speaker expresses a defiance against the finality of death, suggesting that even in death, there will be a union with the earth. The imagery of blood and a "broken engine" evokes a sense of violence and decay, contrasting with the more tender moments of intimacy and longing. The speaker contemplates the nature of love and physical connection, indicating that even if the union does not occur in life, it will eventually happen in death. The mention of "green grass" and "sighing and delight" juxtaposes the beauty of life with the darker undertones of mortality. The poem suggests that the physicality of love is intertwined with the inevitability of death, emphasizing that life is transient and ultimately leads to decay. The closing lines reflect on the idea that life has no true allies, as all must eventually return to the earth. The metaphor of feeding "the dragon with the moon" implies a cyclical nature of existence, where life and death are inextricably linked. The poem captures a sense of urgency and acceptance, recognizing the fleeting nature of life while embracing the inevitability of death as a form of union.

By Edna St. Vincent Millay · First published 1941 · Genre: Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism · 148 words

First lines

Yet in an hour to come, disdainful dust, / You shall be bowed and brought to bed with me .

While the blood roars, or when the blood is rust

About a broken engine, this shall be.

If not today, then later; if not here

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Yet in an Hour to Come is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edna St. Vincent Millay, dated 1941 CE.

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Work type: Short story
Author: Edna St. Vincent Millay
Date: 1941 CE
Language: English
Genres: Poetry, Romanticism, Modernism, Lyrical, Existentialism
Length: 148 words
Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Genres

Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing poetic devices and structure.
Romanticism — Themes of desire, love, and the interplay of life and death are central to the poem.
Modernism — The poem reflects modernist themes of existential contemplation and the complexity of human emotions.
Lyrical — The poem expresses personal feelings and emotions, characteristic of lyrical poetry.