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Poet: Edna St. Vincent Millay (Edna St. Vincent Millay Art)
Poem: First Fig
Comment 8 of 8, added on May 26th, 2006 at 8:04 AM.
My Mother always told me that this was my father's favorite poem and he lived his life just this way. A tea planter in Darjeeling for 20 years until partition, he died young at 45. I choose to subscribe to the philosophy I see expressed in this marvelous poem too.
Peter from China
Comment 7 of 8, added on April 18th, 2006 at 11:11 PM.
Since Millay begins (and ends)this memorable poem with the third person ( "my candle" and "it,") I sense that she discovers it burning at both ends. She doesn't consciously turn it downside-up to light it there herself. The poem does not begin with "I burn my candle..." It burns itself on both ends, and the author, somewhat detached and regarding it, decides that this odd occurrence is not a bad thing. In fact, it is the candle she is given to carry, and she holds it up for all to see. It is her candle. She learns to love it, naturally.
Bruce from United States
Comment 6 of 8, added on February 20th, 2006 at 11:02 PM.
I've always thought of this as a poem on the consequence of excess. Candles work best when burnt from one end. Best is good. Light for a long time is good. Never does she intimate that one cannot have brillance and longevity. After all, isn't that the goal, or a first step?
Michael from United States
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Comments
My Mother always told me that this was my father's favorite poem and he lived his life just this way. A tea planter in Darjeeling for 20 years until partition, he died young at 45. I choose to subscribe to the philosophy I see expressed in this marvelous poem too.
Peter from China