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
Read aloud in ~1 minOpen reading mode →
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
§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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.