An Ancient Gesture

Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem “An Ancient Gesture” qualifies as a lyric as it’s short and expresses a personal emotion. In this case, the emotion is the admirable tradition of crying—specifically, tears shed by women. As the speaker identifies with Penelope and sees herself as a part of her lineage, it’s reasonable to say that Millay’s speaker is a woman, so it’s fine to use feminine pronouns. The speaker sets up a distinction between Penelope and her husband Ulysses that favors the former and, thus, furthers the argument that the speaker, like Penelope, is a truly emotional woman.

The tone, however, is less emotional and more thoughtful. Although tears and feelings serve as one of the poem's primary themes, the poem starts on an intellectual note, as the speaker thinks. “I thought, as I wiped my eyes on the corner of my apron,” says the speaker (Line 1). The speaker's state is contemplative. Yes, she’s crying, and those tears indicate she’s upset over something, yet her tone remains considered.

In Line 2, the speaker considers how “Penelope did this too.” The speaker compares her state to that of Penelope. The Ancient Greek poet Homer narrates the story of Queen Penelope and her husband, King Ulysses (Odysseus), in his