Lament - A poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay - Lament

Listen, children:
Your father is dead.
From his old coats
I'll make you little jackets;
I'll make you little trousers
From his old pants.
There'll be in his pockets
Things he used to put there,
Keys and pennies
Covered with tobacco;
Dan shall have the pennies
To save in his bank;
Anne shall have the keys
To make a pretty noise with.
Life must go on,
And the dead be forgotten;
Life must go on,
Though good men die;
Anne, eat your breakfast;
Dan, take your medicine;
Life must go on;
I forget just why.

Added: on January 30th, 2007 at 8:05 PM | Viewed: 5410 times | Comments and analysis of Lament by Edna St. Vincent Millay Comments (10)

Lament - Comments and Information
Poet: Edna St. Vincent Millay Poem: Lament Comment 10 of 10, added on June 11th, 2007 at 1:10 PM. My teacher gave me this book to read just recently and I just happened to read this exact poem. I like the way that it is so simple but somehow catches your attention. I wonder what atually happened in the story and if the boy was actually sick. Diana from United States Comment 9 of 10, added on February 28th, 2007 at 6:21 PM. sara- this was really good and true. Kira- I liked this poem because it is not lying because it shows that when something bad happens, you can not let it stall your life, like you said, Life must go on. Sara & Kira from United States Comment 8 of 10, added on January 30th, 2007 at 8:05 PM. my brother actually introduced me to this poem when i was in 8th grade. i am now doing a project on good poetry and this is one of my main supporters on what a good poem should be. i also lost my mother at the age of seven, so the lines that say "life must go on and the dead be forgotten...life must go on , though good men die, life must go on, i forgot just why" stick with me whenver i think about her. Stefanie from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Lament, has received 10 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Edna St. Vincent Millay Poem: Lament Last read: Jul 9 2008, 1:48AM Viewed 5410 times. Added on January 30th, 2007 at 8:05 PM.

Millay Info
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