(no subject)

[silverflurry.livejournal.com]

Sorrow

Sorrow like a ceaseless rain
Beats upon my heart.
People twist and scream in pain, --
Dawn will find them still again;
This has neither wax nor wane,
Neither stop nor start.

People dress and go to town;
I sit in my chair.
All my thoughts are slow and brown:
Standing up or sitting down
Little matters, or what gown
Or what shoes I wear.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Millay, Edna St. Vincent. 1917. Renascence and Other Poems.

Comments

Kleenex please. Now. I've gone soppy.

[hinterland.livejournal.com]

Could you explain this to me: "This has neither wax nor wane"

Re: Kleenex please. Now. I've gone soppy.

[silverflurry.livejournal.com]

Wax and wane are old words for get bigger and get smaller so I would assume that means it's neither bigger or smaller or something like that.

Hope that makes sense.

[mery-bast.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous poem. And I agree with silverflurry's answer- if it has neither wax nor wane, I think it means it has neither beginning nor end. It doesn't peak or lessen- it just stays at the same endless level.