When I too long have looked upon your face,
Wherein for me a brightness unobscured
Save by the mists of brightness has its place,
And terrible beauty not to be endured,
I turn away reluctant from your light,
And stand irresolute, a mind undone,
A silly, dazzled thing deprived of sight
From having looked too long upon the sun.
Then is my daily life a narrow room
In which a little while, uncertainly,
Surrounded by impenetrable gloom,
Among familiar things grown strange to me
Making my way, I pause, and feel, and hark,
Till I become accustomed to the dark.
The last few lines point to a declining mind, it seems to me, after days of brightness and light.
Passionate and elegant, dear Edna. Thanks for sharing.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Amazes me how well Millay can put into words all the ways love muddles the heart and the mind. Truly a great poet!