A Sonnet by Edna St. Vincent Millay (XLIII)
Edna St. Vincent Millay was born and grew up in Maine and remained enamored with the savage beauty of the Cadillac Mountain - where the sun first hits the American coast. I planned once to go there to Bar Harbor and to climb the mountain, it didn't happen.
I found on the web this sonnet and I dedicate it to my good friends from Maine, to Jay and Tasha.
What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why,
I have forgotten, and what arms have lain
Under my head till morning; but the rain
Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh
Upon the glass and listen for reply,
And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain
For unremembered lads that not again
Will turn to me at midnight with a cry.
Thus in winter stands the lonely tree,
Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one,
Yet knows its boughs more silent than before:
I cannot say what loves have come and gone,
I only know that summer sang in me
A little while, that in me sings no more.
I have forgotten, and what arms have lain
Under my head till morning; but the rain
Is full of ghosts tonight, that tap and sigh
Upon the glass and listen for reply,
And in my heart there stirs a quiet pain
For unremembered lads that not again
Will turn to me at midnight with a cry.
Thus in winter stands the lonely tree,
Nor knows what birds have vanished one by one,
Yet knows its boughs more silent than before:
I cannot say what loves have come and gone,
I only know that summer sang in me
A little while, that in me sings no more.
Sonnet form: abba abba cde dce
(A Life in Books)
(Maine)
Labels: Edna St. Vincent Millay, Jay, Maine, Sonnets
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