Millay’s speaker holds up a candle burning at both ends as an image for a life lived with reckless intensity. There’s no attempt to conserve energy or make things last; the candle will not survive the night, and the speaker knows it. But instead of regret, the voice is almost triumphant. Addressing both enemies and friends, she insists that this way of living gives off a lovely light. The poem is tiny but carries a confident, provocative mood: it celebrates brilliance and passion even when they come at the cost of early exhaustion. There’s a hint of flirtation with danger and a refusal to live moderately. The tone is warm, defiant, and a little sad, because the beauty depends on being temporary.
First Fig — Summary
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!