Edna St. Vincent Millay's philosophy
is revealed by the following short poem:

.
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 desire to live life to the fullest, perhaps not wisely, but passionately, is also shown in her sonnet, "Love is not all." This lyric is a regular verse sonnet follows the traditional format for a Shakespearean sonnet, but uses antithesis and somewhat shocking imagery to express her thoughts on love.

For critical commentary on "First Fig."