Analysis of O Man, Where is Thy Sting?



O feet, that knows no direction,
When will fleeing be a consideration?
The toes itch in varying degrees,
The nails crack with a shout of plea.

O hands, where shall you slither?
Shall the left stop what the right is after?
It goes to and fro under a disguise,
How could they walk without feet and eyes?

O lips, that cannot be sealed tight,
What blasphemy will you speak this day and night?
Shall disturbing truths be your habitual expression,
Or shall the lie-coated tongue release its celebrated excretion?

O eyes, that pride themselves on seeing in all directions,
Why can't you make good use of your clear vision?
Actively seeking vainglory, fame, and attention,
Why do you hesitate in pondering eternal destination?

O ears, that react to every flattering syllable,
Why do you listen to the world and deem it sensible?
Things applauded, called brave and stunning,  
Shall everything heard be invited without warning?

O mind, that boasts of nigh-omniscience,
Why do you create new ideas of malice?
Bathing and scrubbing sin like it's freshwater,
Did you slide into it and think that you won't falter?

O heart, the most deceitful of them all,
Argues that the days are still long and tall.
Fool! Do you not notice the world's horrific groaning?
Prepare yourself, for the culmination, is coming.

O knees, the vulnerable and weak,
Run back and forth, hide in a cave underneath.
But when He comes, everyone shall hear the call,
And you, in your fragility, shall be the first ones to fall.


Scheme AABX CCDD EEAA XAAA FFGG BXCC HHGG XXHH
Poetic Form Quatrain  (63%)
Metre 11111010 1110100010 011010001 01110111 1111110 1011101110 1110110001 111101101 11110111 11001111101 10101110100010 1101101011100010 11110111001010 11111111110 10010110010 111100100010010 111011100100100 11110101011100 101011010 110110100110 1111111 111011010110 1001011110 1110110111110 1101010111 1010111101 1111100101010 010110010110 110100001 1101100101 1111101101 010101001101111
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 1,458
Words 256
Sentences 19
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 32
Letters per line (avg) 37
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 146
Words per stanza (avg) 32

About this poem

The first poem I posted on the internet. This shall be a marker for my journey with the hope that this will persevere.

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Written on September 10, 2021

Submitted by kanetherocktowers on October 09, 2021

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:18 min read
8

Keen Dela Torre

An amateur of words and arts, but an aspirer nonetheless. more…

All Keen Dela Torre poems | Keen Dela Torre Books

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    "O Man, Where is Thy Sting?" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/111700/o-man%2C-where-is-thy-sting%3F>.

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