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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ELAINE by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY

Poet Analysis

First Line: OH, COME AGAIN TO ASTOLAT!
Last Line: AND SMILE, -- IF YOU SHOULD SMILE.
Subject(s): ARTHURIAN LEGEND; ARTHUR, KING;

OH, come again to Astolat!
I will not ask you to be kind.
And you may go when you will go,
And I will stay behind.

I will not say how dear you are,
Or ask you if you hold me dear,
Or trouble you with things for you
The way I did last year.

So still the orchard, Lancelot,
So very still the lake shall be,
You could not guess­though you should guess --
What is become of me.

So wide shall be the garden-walk,
The garden-seat so very wide,
You needs must think -- if you should think --
The lily maid had died.

Save that, a little way away,
I'd watch you for a little while,
To see you speak, the way you speak,
And smile, -- if you should smile.





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