Analysis of Song of the Flower XXIII

Khalil Gibran 1883 (Bsharri) – 1931 (New York City)



I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.

At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.

The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.

I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

I am the lover's gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.


Scheme XXXXXXXAX XBXX XXX XAXX XXX XXXC BCX
Poetic Form Etheree  (33%)
Metre 11011100010 101110 11011010 11010110 1101010100 111001 1111111 100111001 1001110 1111101 10101011 111101 010011 0111001 110010001 1101110 110110011 11101011 0101110111 0101101 11111011 01010101 101010101 110101110101 11010010101100 110111010101 110111001110 11111111001 010111111 11101111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,033
Words 216
Sentences 10
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 9, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3
Lines Amount 30
Letters per line (avg) 26
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 113
Words per stanza (avg) 31
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 18, 2023

1:05 min read
130

Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese artist, poet, and writer. more…

All Khalil Gibran poems | Khalil Gibran Books

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