First Fig
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!
The Annotated Edition
First Fig by Edna St. Vincent Millay
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A speaker proudly claims she lives life to the fullest—burning her candle at both ends—despite knowing it will lead to a quicker burnout.
- Composed
- 1920 · Modernist
- Core theme
- Beauty
Study actions
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
A speaker proudly claims she lives life to the fullest—burning her candle at both ends—despite knowing it will lead to a quicker burnout. She understands the price she pays but believes the bright flame is worth it. This four-line statement emphasizes that living boldly is more important than simply living a long life.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
My candle burns at both ends; / It will not last the night;
Editor's note
Millay starts with a well-known saying and takes ownership of it right away. "Burning a candle at both ends" has long been a caution against overindulgence, but she transforms it into a bold admission. The candle represents her life and energy, and she straightforwardly acknowledges that it will run out fast. There's no sense of regret in her words, just a refreshing honesty.
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends— / It gives a lovely light!
Editor's note
The turn here is crucial. She speaks to both enemies and friends in the same breath, treating them as equals — both witness her life. The exclamation feels like a toast. The word 'lovely' carries a lot of weight: it's not 'brilliant' or 'blazing,' it's *lovely*, which feels personal and warm. The essence is that the beauty of the light makes the cost of the burning worthwhile.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
Defiant yet celebratory. The speaker isn't reckless or naive — she understands the consequences fully — but she won’t apologize for them. There’s a playful edge in how she speaks to both foes and friends alike, and the closing exclamation point adds a joyful dare to her words.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- The candle
- The candle represents the speaker's life and energy. Burning at both ends signifies that she is exhausting herself from all angles — through work, love, pleasure, and ambition — without saving anything for later.
- The light
- The light reflects the essence of that vibrant life: art, passion, presence, and influence. It’s what the speaker shares with the world, and she presents it as beautiful enough to warrant the self-sacrifice that brings it to life.
- The night
- Night symbolizes the brief duration of a human life, as well as the darkness — obscurity, death, and forgetting — that will ultimately prevail. The candle may not survive the night, but it will shine brightly for as long as it lasts.
§06Form & structure
Form & structure
- Meter
- iambic trimeter
- Rhyme
- ABAB
§07Historical context
Historical context
Edna St. Vincent Millay published "First Fig" in her 1920 collection *A Few Figs from Thistles*, which she wrote while living in Greenwich Village, New York, amid a vibrant bohemian literary community. The poem quickly became an anthem for young women in the 1920s who were challenging Victorian ideals of feminine restraint and self-sacrifice. Millay was openly bisexual, politically active, and lived her life with the same intensity she infused into her writing, showing little tolerance for convention. The collection's title references the biblical Book of Matthew, where figs represent the outcomes of one’s choices. "First Fig" serves as a bold introduction: concise, pointed, and unapologetic. It played a key role in establishing Millay's reputation as the voice of a new type of American woman.
§08FAQ
Questions readers ask
What does 'burns at both ends' mean?
It's a twist on the idiom 'burning the candle at both ends,' which typically refers to wearing yourself out by working or partying too much. Millay turns that idea on its head — she's burning bright and fast, and instead of feeling guilty about it, she takes pride in it.
Who are the 'foes' and 'friends' she's talking to?
She's speaking to everyone who watches her live — both critics and fans. By prioritizing her foes over her friends, she shows that she doesn't seek validation from either side. They are all just an audience for the light she’s creating.
Is this poem autobiographical?
Almost certainly, yes. Millay lived just as the poem describes — she was prolific, passionate, politically engaged, and known for her intense relationships and struggles with her health. Yet, it also resonates as a universal statement, which is why it has endured beyond her personal story.
What is the poem's rhyme scheme?
It follows an ABAB pattern: 'ends' rhymes with 'friends,' and 'night' rhymes with 'light.' This tight rhyme scheme adds a lively quality to the poem, making it feel more like a toast or a motto than a reflective meditation.
What does the poem say about death or mortality?
It faces the truth head-on. "It will not last the night" clearly states that this lifestyle can't be maintained and will lead to burnout or an early death. Millay simply suggests that the quality of the light is more important than how long it lasts.
Why is it called 'First Fig'?
It's the first poem in a collection titled A Few Figs from Thistles. The title alludes to a biblical concept where the fruit of a fig tree reflects its true nature — a good tree bears good fruit. Millay uses this metaphor to present her poems as the fruits of her unique and unconventional life.
Is this poem feminist?
In context, absolutely. In 1920, a woman openly stating that she would live passionately and unapologetically — and confronting her adversaries head-on — was a bold political statement. Millay challenged the societal expectation that women should be modest, self-effacing, and patient.
Why is the poem so short?
The brevity is key. A lengthy poem about living fast would contradict its own message. With just four lines, one vivid image, and a sudden twist — the form makes the point. It shines brightly and then it's done.
Key quotes
Key quotes
“My candle burns at both ends;”
This opening line delivers the poem's central metaphor immediately: the candle burning at both ends is a vivid image of living recklessly and passionately, consuming oneself from both directions at once. It sets up the entire argument of the poem in just seven words.
“It will not last the night;”
This line acknowledges the inevitable cost of the speaker's lifestyle — early burnout and self-destruction — but crucially, it is stated without regret or alarm. The matter-of-fact tone makes the acceptance of transience feel defiant rather than sad.
“But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—”
The volta of the poem arrives here, marked by the conversational interjections 'ah' and 'oh' and the direct address to both enemies and friends alike. By grouping foes and friends together, Millay suggests the speaker's choices provoke equal strong reactions from everyone — and she doesn't care which side you're on.
“It gives a lovely light!”
The exclamation mark and the word 'lovely' give this closing line a triumphant, almost defiant joy. After conceding the candle won't last, the speaker's final word is on beauty and brilliance, asserting that intensity of living is worth the cost — a perfect encapsulation of the poem's celebration of the bohemian spirit.
Citation
Cite this poem
MLA
Millay, Edna St. Vincent. "First Fig." 1920. Storgy, https://storgy.com/poems/first-fig-edna-st-vincent-millay/.
APA
Millay, E. S. V. (1920). First fig. Storgy. https://storgy.com/poems/first-fig-edna-st-vincent-millay/
Text source: en.wikisource.org
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