Edna St. Vincent Millay

Edna St. Vincent Millay (1892 – 1950)

Loved this girl the first time I read her! Totally dig her poems- might even have a slight crush (kidding). Anyhow, happy date of birth, lady ...


One thing I really like about Millay is that she explores a wide range of styles and meter. I’ve held on to the poem below for about the last four months because the rhythm, meter, and rhyme scheme are simply gorgeous (take the rhyme scheme for example, abaaab … totally cool, like something Poe would do).

Anyhow, check it out, you’ll dig it, I promise …


Sorrow

Sorrow like a ceaseless rain
Beats upon my heart.
People twist and scream in pain--
Dawn will find them still again;
This has neither wax nor wane,
Neither stop nor start.

People dress and go to town;
I sit in my chair.
All my thoughts are slow and brown:
Standing up or sitting down
Little matters, or what gown
Or what shoes I wear.