Book Review: "The Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay" Introduced By Olivia Gatwood

For me, poetry has always been one of my absolute favorite genres to delve into when I desire emotion and vulnerability. It's a special type of writing that gives the author every chance to be open in a way that other formats don't offer as freely.  Whether joyful, sorrowful, or anything in-between, the nature of the poetic form is to be eye-opening. 

Recently, I have been diving into the work of Edna St. Vincent Millay, a poet that, despite having not been alive for over 70 years, has a unique way of feeling wildly relevant. 

The New Englander poet was not only notably successful during her lifespan, but she was also seen as a celebrity of sorts. At the young age of 19, she had her first poem published in The Lyric Year, titled "Renascence" and it remains one of her most well-known works still. She was seen as a feminist and activist during her time, which garnered her a good bit of attention.

Unfortunately, she suffered greatly from addiction for well over the last decade of her life after being in an auto accident and tragically died of a heart attack at age 58. Her tumultuous experiences may shed some light on the depressive themes present in her work. 

I have a great appreciation for poetry that is so emotive I can almost be one with the author, regardless of if I've experienced the situations being written about. Edna St. Vincent Millay writes a great deal about sorrow and loss and how it directly affects her, and she placed me in her own words and allowed me to feel her anguish over people I never knew. 

"Interium"

We were so wholly one I had not thought

That we could die apart. I had not thought

That I could move,—and you be stiff and still!

That I could speak,—and you perforce be dumb!

Millay's tone in "Interim," while noting her grief does not feel distant, but rather so very close. She writes of how she has no acceptance of the loss she has experienced, but in a way that she's still able to feel the depths of it and describe what she can't accept. Her poetry is her own diary, where she places her innermost thoughts, but not in a way so specific that it cuts out the audience's relatability. I feel thoroughly enamored with her thoughts, as they teach me that while times change and years go by and we all age, the emotions and ideas that swirl through our brains stay so incredibly and terrifying similar. Even so, knowing that the fears in my mind are not fears only I have had is a heart-warmingly uniting perspective.

"Afternoon on a Hill"

I will be the gladdest thing 

Under the sun!

I will touch a hundred flowers

And not pick one.

I will look at cliffs and clouds

With quiet eyes,

Watch the wind bow down the grass, 

And the grass rise.

And when the lights begin to show

Up from the town,

I will mark which must be mine,

And then start down!

Despite having such a firm grasp on conveying sadness, Millay doesn't abandon the hope that can always be found within nature. "Afternoon on a Hill" has a childlike sense of wonder and a tranquil undertone that caused me to desire such a hill to sit on for myself. With the stresses of life and the ever-present notifications, I suggest we all follow the likes of Millay and find a place outside to simply watch "with quiet eyes."

"Grown-up"

Was it for this I uttered prayers,

And sobbed and cursed and kicked the stairs,

That now, domestic as a plate,

I should retire at half-past eight?

Millay, whose publication career began in her late teens, had to become an adult in the face of society's criticism, as a notable poet. "Grown-up" is among my favorite of hers as it has abounding relatability. It details the urgency to become an adult felt as a child and then parallels it with the reality of domesticity and responsibility that adult life often brings. It's something we all understand and when we hear children long for adulthood, we wish they would believe us when we tell them to enjoy the time they have. Millay perfectly describes the narrative we all feel in a way that binds us together. 

I really enjoy reading Edna St. Vincent Millay, despite having to place myself in her sorrow at times. She's able to encapsulate emotions and then present them to her audience with ease. 

For anyone who enjoys poetry, I highly recommend picking up a copy of her poetry.

For anyone who struggles with poetry, I urge you to give Millay a chance. I think if you give her a moment, she'll pull you in for many, many more. 

You can find The Selected Poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay and more poetry by her in our catalog and reserve your copy for pickup at any Birmingham Public Library location today. 

By Julie Higginbottom, Library Assistant Ⅲ, North Birmingham Branch Library