Analysis of Modern Love XLI: How Many a Thing
George Meredith 1828 (Portsmouth, Hampshire) – 1909 (Box Hill, Surrey)
How many a thing which we cast to the ground,
When others pick it up becomes a gem!
We grasp at all the wealth it is to them;
And by reflected light its worth is found.
Yet for us still 'tis nothing! and that zeal
Of false appreciation quickly fades.
This truth is little known to human shades,
How rare from their own instinct 'tis to feel!
They waste the soul with spurious desire,
That is not the ripe flame upon the bough.
We two have taken up a lifeless vow
To rob a living passion: dust for fire!
Madam is grave, and eyes the clock that tells
Approaching midnight. We have struck despair
Into two hearts. O, look we like a pair
Who for fresh nuptials joyfully yield all else?
Scheme | ABBACDDCEFFEGHHI |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 11001111101 1101110101 1111011111 0101011111 1111110011 110010101 1111011101 1111110111 11011100010 1110110101 1111010101 11010101110 1011010111 010111101 0111111101 1111100111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 689 |
Words | 133 |
Sentences | 11 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 16 |
Lines Amount | 16 |
Letters per line (avg) | 33 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 532 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 131 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 14, 2023
- 39 sec read
- 111 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Modern Love XLI: How Many a Thing" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/15520/modern-love-xli%3A-how-many-a-thing>.
Discuss this George Meredith poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In