Recuerdo
Edna St. Vincent Millay · 1919
Version 1
Version 2
Two musical settings argue different things about Millay’s late-night ferry poem. Use one in class for a quick comparison, or assign both at home for a deeper interpretive piece.
Share with students
In class
Short, focused — one class period. Fewer questions, brief written responses.
/a/recuerdo?v=lAd2Ct6Y1BQ&v=C7PGMBtRV-o&audience=high-school&len=short-paragraph&q=The+phrase+%22We+were+very+tired%2C+we+were+very+merry%22+repeats+three+times.+How+does+its+meaning+shift+across+the+three+stanzas%3F&q=What+is+the+relationship+between+the+speaker+and+the+person+they%27re+with%3F+What+clues+in+the+poem+support+your+reading%3F&q=The+speakers+give+away+%22all+our+money+but+our+subway+fares%22+to+a+stranger.+What+does+this+exchange+reveal+about+their+state+of+mind%2C+and+about+the+woman+they+meet%3F&exp=2026-06-29At home
Longer-form, self-directed. More questions, essay-length responses.
/a/recuerdo?v=lAd2Ct6Y1BQ&v=C7PGMBtRV-o&audience=high-school&len=short-essay&q=The+phrase+%22We+were+very+tired%2C+we+were+very+merry%22+repeats+three+times.+How+does+its+meaning+shift+across+the+three+stanzas%3F&q=What+is+the+relationship+between+the+speaker+and+the+person+they%27re+with%3F+What+clues+in+the+poem+support+your+reading%3F&q=The+speakers+give+away+%22all+our+money+but+our+subway+fares%22+to+a+stranger.+What+does+this+exchange+reveal+about+their+state+of+mind%2C+and+about+the+woman+they+meet%3F&q=Listen+for+the+moment+in+each+musical+setting+where+the+mood+turns.+Does+the+music+locate+that+moment+in+the+same+place+the+poem+does%3F+If+not%2C+where+does+the+music+put+it%3F&q=The+poem+mentions+a+%22shawl-covered+head%22+and+a+%22morning+paper%22+%E2%80%94+what+social+class+divisions+are+implied%3F+How+does+the+encounter+complicate+the+poem%27s+joy%3F&exp=2026-06-29Teacher edition
A page just for you, with poet bio, historical context, a suggested class agenda, per-question teaching commentary, and a chat panel for follow-up questions. Includes a prep podcast tailored to this exact lesson.
Open teacher edition
Bookmark or share with co-teachers. Not for students.
/t/recuerdo?v=lAd2Ct6Y1BQ&v=C7PGMBtRV-o&audience=high-school&len=short-essay&q=The+phrase+%22We+were+very+tired%2C+we+were+very+merry%22+repeats+three+times.+How+does+its+meaning+shift+across+the+three+stanzas%3F&q=What+is+the+relationship+between+the+speaker+and+the+person+they%27re+with%3F+What+clues+in+the+poem+support+your+reading%3F&q=The+speakers+give+away+%22all+our+money+but+our+subway+fares%22+to+a+stranger.+What+does+this+exchange+reveal+about+their+state+of+mind%2C+and+about+the+woman+they+meet%3F&q=Listen+for+the+moment+in+each+musical+setting+where+the+mood+turns.+Does+the+music+locate+that+moment+in+the+same+place+the+poem+does%3F+If+not%2C+where+does+the+music+put+it%3F&q=The+poem+mentions+a+%22shawl-covered+head%22+and+a+%22morning+paper%22+%E2%80%94+what+social+class+divisions+are+implied%3F+How+does+the+encounter+complicate+the+poem%27s+joy%3F&exp=2026-06-29