Analysis of A Prayer
James Joyce 1882 (Rathgar) – 1941 (Zürich)
Again!
Come, give, yield all your strength to me!
From far a low word breathes on the breaking brain
Its cruel calm, submission's misery,
Gentling her awe as to a soul predestined.
Cease, silent love! My doom!
Blind me with your dark nearness, O have mercy, beloved enemy of my will!
I dare not withstand the cold touch that I dread.
Draw from me still
My slow life! Bend deeper on me, threatening head,
Proud by my downfall, remembering, pitying
Him who is, him who was!
Again!
Together, folded by the night, they lay on earth. I hear
From far her low word breathe on my breaking brain.
Come! I yield. Bend deeper upon me! I am here.
Subduer, do not leave me! Only joy, only anguish,
Take me, save me, soothe me, O spare me!
| Scheme | Abcbxx dedexx Afcfxb |
|---|---|
| Poetic Form | |
| Metre | 01 11111111 11011110101 11011100 101110110 110111 111111111001100111 11101011111 1111 111110111001 11110100100 111111 01 01010101111111 11011111101 111110011111 111111011010 111111111 |
| Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
| Characters | 718 |
| Words | 138 |
| Sentences | 19 |
| Stanzas | 3 |
| Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6 |
| Lines Amount | 18 |
| Letters per line (avg) | 31 |
| Words per line (avg) | 8 |
| Letters per stanza (avg) | 184 |
| Words per stanza (avg) | 45 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 12, 2023
- 41 sec read
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"A Prayer" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/20151/a-prayer>.
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