Dirge Without Music
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.
Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, –but the best is lost.
The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love–
They are gone. They are gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.
Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.
Gustave Caillebotte
Dallas Museum of Art, The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., via Wikimedia
Please be sure to visit Linda at Write Time for the Poetry Friday Round Up.
Reading to the Core 
Very simple yet very special. That’s how true writers make a place in readers’ hearts. loved it
I would like to invite you to take a stroll in my world as it’s always good to connect with people http://priyapareek23.wordpress.com/
It’s always good to interact 🙂 God bless you.
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So. We are more than the sum of our parts. What we should appreciate more while we live, we may miss. And when we go what do we leave? I had not read this before. It is one I will come back to. I am really glad you posted this poem.
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I am re-reading Spoon River Anthology right now. I’m struck by how Millay’s poem touches on a theme Spoon River shares — death as an equalizer.
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
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It’s beautiful, Catherine. I am especially drawn to “More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.” Thank you!
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I agree, Linda, that line resonated deeply with me. It seems paradoxical that such beautiful words could be filled with so much pain. Thanks for stopping by!
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“They are gone. They are gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.”
These lines permit me to do what some might call dwelling in or harboring upset rather than maturely or wisely or zenly moving it through it. I appreciate the permission. Thanks, Catherine, for bringing this poem back to me.
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I’ve read this poem before, and every time I do, it reminds me to show the people you love how you feel now while there is still time. Thank you for sharing this touching poem.
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Yes, she is defiant even in grief. Such a lovely poem, Catherine.
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This poem makes me cry every time I read it. Millay captures the anger and pain, but somehow also gives a glimpse of the healing that will come with time.
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Rage, rage against the dying of the light! Beautiful poem, Catherine.
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Those last three lines… powerful enough to send chills up my spine.
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I love that fist-shaking ending! No, no, accepting, but NOT resigned. Wonderful! Thank you for sharing.
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