Dirge without music

Edna St. Vincent Millay lived in defiance of the world. Her words offer no consolation. She did not bow to death. When she heard his calls, she sang a dirge stripped of music. No heaven. No comfort. No surrender. Edna St. Vincent Millay 1892 † 1950 Dirge without music 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. Do not approve. Do not resign. Leave an offering †Join the secret cult. Original photos by Julia Kadel and Carl Van Vechten. Modified by Ashmore under the Unsplash License. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cicadacult.substack.com