Edna St. Vincent Millay sits almost uniquely at the crossroads of classicism and modernism in early 20th century American poetry. The technical mastery with which she handles traditional forms, such as ballads, sonnets, and epigrams, often hints at a sense of longing for structure and reverence for the masters of the past, only for that sense to be exploded on the next page by the potency and courage of the themes that she tackles. A few figs from thistles is her second published volume of poetry and represents a lighter, bohemian, more wishful view of the world compared to her later works. The poems here are sardonic, playful, and at times outright impudent, but always delightful. The combination of raw talent, light-heartedness, and wit has traditionally made A few figs from thistles a perfect entry point for Millay’s work.