Prebilic is an independent author who writes and analyzes children's literature. She holds degrees in psychology and business. In this essay, Prebilic discusses how Millay uses universal emotional associations and symbolism in her poem to share her life's experiences.

Millay published Second April, the strongly melancholic volume containing the poem "Wild Swans," in 1921. This anthology conveys the themes of love, nature, and death with free verse poems and passionate sonnets. Known for its spirited celebration of feminism and free love, this anthology mirrored the developing attitudes of an era of free choice. A number of critics believe that Second April captured the mood and atmosphere of Bohemian Greenwich Village in the glitzy post- World War I period. However, the poem "Wild Swans" shies away from the eccentric. Rather, it is a straightforward and intimate poem; an expression of a melancholy affair of the heart. It stays true...