Analysis of The Faithful Oak

Alan S Jeeves 1951 (Lancashire)



I planted out an oak tree
One hundred years ago;
I saw her fed and watered,
I watched her lithely grow.
I watched her through the winter wild
Frosted, frore and dark.
I watched her as the summer sunburn
Baked her golden bark.

My friend the ardent oak tree
Drew me by the hand;
Her strength an inspiration,
She taught me how to stand.
Amidst the savage blizzard
She learned to bow and bend;
Resisting stormful battles,
Triumphant in the end.

Now an aged oak tree,
Her wisdom with me resting,
She, towering tall, majestic
Withstanding nature's testing.
Her arms suffuse, embracing,
She beckoned me with pride;
I laid me down within her shroud
And neath her sanctum died


Scheme ABCBXDXD AEXECFXF AGXGGHXH
Poetic Form
Metre 1101111 110101 1101010 11011 11010101 10101 11010101 10101 1101011 11101 011010 111111 0101010 111101 010110 010001 11111 0101110 11001010 0101010 0101010 110111 11110101 010101
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 644
Words 119
Sentences 7
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 22
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 176
Words per stanza (avg) 40

About this poem

The Faithful Oak' is from 2015 and tells the story of an oak tree and how it became the faithful companion of a, now old, man who planted it when he was a very young child. Hopefully it is a celebration of longevity. Oak trees live for ever ~ But not so little boys.

Font size:
 

Submitted by AlanSJeeves on June 21, 2021

Modified by AlanSJeeves on June 21, 2021

36 sec read
6

Alan S Jeeves

Alan S Jeeves is a Lancashire (England) born, Yorkshire based classical poet. more…

All Alan S Jeeves poems | Alan S Jeeves Books

3 fans

Discuss this Alan S Jeeves poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "The Faithful Oak" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/103223/the-faithful-oak>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    2
    days
    8
    hours
    17
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry?
    A Edna St. Vincent Millay
    B Sara Teasdale
    C Edith Wharton
    D Mona Van Duyn