
My candle burns at both ends; It will not last the night; But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—It gives a lovely light! “First Fig” from A Few Figs from Thistles (1920) Alongside Robert Frost, T.S. Eliot, Marianne Moore, and E. E. Cummings, Edna St. Vincent Millay remains among the most celebrated poets of the early twentieth century for her uniquely lyrical explorations of love, individuality, and artistic expression. This invaluable compendium of her work is not only an essential addition to any collection of the world’s most moving and memorable poetry but an unprecedented look into her life.
Author

Edna St. Vincent Millay was an American lyrical poet and playwright. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1923, the third woman to win the award for poetry, and was also known for her feminist activism and her many love affairs. She used the pseudonym Nancy Boyd for her prose work. This famous portrait of Vincent (as she was called by friends) was taken by Carl Van Vechten in 1933.