Ebb

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1921

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Form and Meter

The form of “Ebb” is small and compact. Its miniature size might be a product of its genre or could also link to the poem’s themes. The poem is about a diminished, receding heart, so the shrunken form reflects the shrinking heart and the restricted capacity for love.

Although the poem appears nice and tidy, there are some peculiar quirks to the form because Millay indents Lines 2, 5, and 6. It’s not clear why Millay indents these lines. Yes, “died” and “tied” rhyme, but “pool” doesn’t rhyme with “died" or “tied.” Perhaps Millay indented these lines to signify remnants. The memory of the speaker’s love remains even though it died in Line 2. In Lines 5 and 6, the tide leaves behind the tiny, lukewarm pool of water. Thus, the form brings out the themes of memories and feelings that linger.

Although the poem follows no specific meter, it maintains an even sound, with the lines staying short and within a range of four to seven syllables. Millay furthers the harmonious sound because she chooses words with either one or two syllables. Similar to the speaker’s heart, Millay’s self-made meter is restricted and limited.

Simile

The literary device that accounts for most of the poem is a simile: a comparison between two different things using the words “like” or “as.” In “Ebb,” the speaker states that her heart is “like a hollow ledge” (Line 3). Yet Millay’s simile doesn’t stop there. It continues for four lines or until the poem’s end. In all, the speaker compares her heart to an empty edge with a tiny amount of lukewarm water that came from the tide, and this little bit of water is slowly drying up.

The simile allows Millay to tackle the intricacies of lost love and to view heartbreak from another angle. She shows how the end of a relationship can feel like a miniature pool of water that’s quickly evaporating. Through the simile, Millay’s speaker confronts and provides insight into her emotions without having to tell the reader word-for-word how she feels.

Figurative Language

A simile and figurative language serve similar purposes. Each of these literary devices allows the poet to talk about something through a new lens. A common example of figurative language is when a person says, “It’s raining cats and dogs.” It’s not raining pet animals, of course. The "cats and dogs" are figures that represent how much it’s raining.

Similarly, the speaker’s heart isn’t a “hollow ledge” (Line 3) with a drying “little tepid pool” (Line 6) left behind by the tide. These are figures or representations of what the speaker’s heart feels like. The speaker sees her heart as an abandoned, tiny, shriveled object. The destitute figures illustrate the speaker’s melancholy mood. Through figurative language, Millay establishes the tone, mood, and atmosphere of the poem—all of which are quite dolorous.

Of course, the heart can also serve as an example of figurative language. In the poem, the heart represents something else than what it is—an organ that pumps blood. In “Ebb,” the heart serves as a figure for the speaker’s entire identity and reduced capacity to receive and potentially give love.