Analysis of Died

Helen Hunt Jackson 1830 (Amherst, Massachusetts) – 1885 (San Francisco)



Not by the death that kills the body. Nay,
By that which even Christ bade us to fear
Hath died my dead.
Ah, me! if on a bier
I could but see him lifeless stretched to-day,
I 'd bathe his face with tears of joy, and lay
My cheek to his in anguish which were near
To ecstasy, if I could hold him dear
In death as life. Mere separations weigh
As dust in balances of love. The death
That kills comes only by dishonor. Vain
To chide me! vain! And weaker to implore,
O thou once loved so well, loved now no more!
There is no resurrection for such slain,
No miracle of God could give thee breath!


Scheme ABCDAABBAEFGGFE
Poetic Form Tetractys  (33%)
Metre 1101110101 1111011111 1111 111101 1111110111 11111111101 1111010101 1100111111 011110101 1101001101 1111010101 1111010101 1111111111 111010111 1100111111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 583
Words 121
Sentences 11
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 15
Lines Amount 15
Letters per line (avg) 30
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 451
Words per stanza (avg) 119
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
27

Helen Hunt Jackson

Helen Maria Hunt Jackson, born Helen Fiske, was an American poet and writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the United States government. more…

All Helen Hunt Jackson poems | Helen Hunt Jackson Books

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