Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Armenonville" is a poem written by Edna St. Vincent Millay, an American poet who was known for her romantic and often melancholy themes. The poem was first published in 1935 and is named after a restaurant in Paris that was popular in the early 20th century.

Explanation:

The poem is a nostalgic reflection on a past love affair, with the speaker remembering a romantic evening spent at the Armenonville restaurant in Paris. Millay vividly describes the setting, with its "little tables, white and gold," and the "fountains plashing in the light."

The poem is written in the second person, addressing the speaker's former lover directly. The speaker reminisces about the passion and intensity of their relationship, but also acknowledges the pain and heartbreak that ultimately led to their separation.

Through her use of imagery and language, Millay creates a sense of longing and melancholy, suggesting that the memory of this past love will continue to haunt the speaker long after it has ended.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: The poem is written in free verse, without a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This allows Millay to experiment with the structure of the poem and to convey a sense of spontaneity and naturalness.
• Imagery: Millay uses vivid and evocative imagery throughout the poem, describing the restaurant and its surroundings in rich and detailed language. For example, she writes of "the trees on the terrace, / The lilacs where we sat, / The very fountain-pipes that wept in vain."
• Tone: The tone of the poem is wistful and melancholic, with a sense of longing for the past and regret for what has been lost.

Summary:

"Armenonville" is a powerful and moving reflection on love, memory, and loss. Through her use of poetic elements such as free verse and vivid imagery, Millay captures the intensity and passion of a past love affair, while also acknowledging the pain and heartbreak that ultimately led to its end. The poem is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of love and the lasting impact it can have on our lives.

Poem Snippet:

"You held a lighted match

And in its tiny glare

We ate and drank and talked and laughed

And in the perfume-thickened air,

The night seemed to fade

To the sound of a music-box that came

From a place where nobody seemed to be afraid."