Analysis of Little Birds

Lewis Carroll 1832 (Daresbury) – 1898 (Guildford)



Little Birds are dining
Warily and well,
Hid in mossy cell:
Hid, I say, by waiters
Gorgeous in their gaiters -
I've a Tale to tell.

Little Birds are feeding
Justices with jam,
Rich in frizzled ham:
Rich, I say, in oysters
Haunting shady cloisters -
That is what I am.

Little Birds are teaching
Tigresses to smile,
Innocent of guile:
Smile, I say, not smirkle -
Mouth a semicircle,
That's the proper style!

Little Birds are sleeping
All among the pins,
Where the loser wins:
Where, I say, he sneezes
When and how he pleases -
So the Tale begins.

Little Birds are writing
Interesting books,
To be read by cooks:
Read, I say, not roasted -
Letterpress, when toasted,
Loses its good looks.

Little Birds are playing
Bagpipes on the shore,
Where the tourists snore:
"Thanks!" they cry. "'Tis thrilling!
Take, oh take this shilling!
Let us have no more!"

Little Birds are bathing
Crocodiles in cream,
Like a happy dream:
Like, but not so lasting -
Crocodiles, when fasting,
Are not all they seem!

Little Birds are choking
Baronets with bun,
Taught to fire a gun:
Taught, I say, to splinter
Salmon in the winter -
Merely for the fun.

Little Birds are hiding
Crimes in carpet-bags,
Blessed by happy stags:
Blessed, I say, though beaten -
Since our friends are eaten
When the memory flags.

Little Birds are tasting
Gratitude and gold,
Pale with sudden cold:
Pale, I say, and wrinkled -
When the bells have tinkled,
And the Tale is told.


Scheme ABBCCB ADDCCD AEEBBE AFFGGF AHHXXH AIIAAI AJJAAJ AKKLLK AMCKKM ANNOON
Poetic Form Tetractys  (30%)
Etheree  (28%)
Metre 101110 10001 1011 111110 10011 10111 101110 10011 1011 111010 101010 11111 101110 111 10011 11111 101 10101 101110 10101 10101 111110 101110 10101 101110 1001 11111 111110 10110 10111 101110 1101 10101 111110 111110 11111 101110 1001 10101 111110 10110 11111 101110 10011 111001 111110 100010 10101 101110 10101 11101 111110 1101110 101001 101110 1001 11101 111010 101110 00111
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,375
Words 260
Sentences 15
Stanzas 10
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 60
Letters per line (avg) 18
Words per line (avg) 4
Letters per stanza (avg) 110
Words per stanza (avg) 26
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 26, 2023

1:18 min read
144

Lewis Carroll

Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name, Lewis Carroll, was an English writer, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. more…

All Lewis Carroll poems | Lewis Carroll Books

2 fans

Discuss this Lewis Carroll poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Little Birds" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/25772/little-birds>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    June 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    11
    days
    11
    hours
    58
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    What is the longest Old English poem?
    A Soul and Body
    B The Fates of the Apostles
    C Beowulf
    D Elene