What is the summary of the poem Travel?

The Call of the Rails: Edna St. Vincent Millay’s “Travel” and the Allure of Escape

Edna St. Vincent Millay’s poem “Travel” encapsulates the intoxicating spirit of exploration that permeated the early 20th century. In a world on the cusp of dramatic change, where industrial advancements rubbed shoulders with a lingering sense of societal stagnation, the poem paints a vivid picture of longing and escape.

At the heart of “Travel” lies the potent symbol of the train. More than just a mode of transportation, the train embodies progress, dynamism, and the promise of the unknown. Its rhythmic chugging becomes a siren call, beckoning the speaker and, by extension, the reader to break free from the mundane and embrace a world brimming with possibilities.

Millay’s choice of imagery underscores this desire for escape. The poem juxtaposes the confinement of the familiar – “the same street” and “the same house” – with the boundless allure of distant lands. “India” and “the Mountains of the Moon” become tantalizing destinations, representing not just geographical locations but also the yearning for a life less ordinary.

Published in 1921, “Travel” captures a pivotal moment in history. The aftermath of World War I and the burgeoning Jazz Age created a climate of disillusionment and a simultaneous thirst for new experiences. Millay’s poem taps into this collective sentiment, suggesting that true fulfillment lies not in the comfort of the known, but in the pursuit of the unknown, in embracing the transformative power of travel.

Through its evocative imagery and powerful symbolism, “Travel” speaks to the adventurer in us all. It is a timeless testament to the enduring human desire to break free from limitations, to seek new horizons, and to discover the magic that unfolds when we dare to answer the call of the open road, symbolized here by the irresistible allure of the train.