Analysis of The Long, Lone Road
Roderic Quinn 1867 (Surry Hills, New South Wales) – 1949 (Darlinghurst, New South Wales)
YOU that had the soft path
And the lights, brightly glowing,
Your laugh is very still, and your hands are very chill,
And where may you be going?
'Though the light of dawn be breaking,
And the birds of morning call —
All the flowers and trees awaking —
'Tis the long road I'm taking,
The long road, the lone road that has no end at all.'
You that have the red gold,
And the gift of money-making,
Since your journey has no end, sure you'll need a heap to spend,
And how much will you be taking?
'O there's little need for spending
When the grey shadows fall,
And the twilight lies unending
On the way I'll soon be wending —
The long road, the lone road that has no end at all.'
You that had the choice wines,
In the frail cups glowing —
Is there any need to ask if you'll take a golden flask
On the road you'll be going?
'When I walk, a spirit shrinking,
Where the grey shadows fall,
There'll be little need, I'm thinking,
For the rich delights of drinking
On the long road, the lone road that has no end at all!'
You that sought the rich man
And the ladies — jewelled, glowing —
Since the way is far to wend, sure you'll need a true-heart friend
On the road you'll be going?
'Nay! — and not an ear shall heed me
Though I call, call, call,
When the beckoning shadows lead me;
And no prayer of heart shall speed me
On the long road, the lone road that has no end at all!'
You that had the hard heart
And the selfish soul uncaring,
Is there any deed at all that shall let a comfort fall
On the road you'll be going?
'Hush! the lights of day have ended,
And the grey shadows fall,
And, by no sweet thought attended,
I must wander, unbefriended,
Down the long road, the lone road that has no end at all!'
Scheme | abcbbdbbDebfbbdbbDgbhBbdbbDibfBjdjjDkbdBldled |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111011 0011010 1111010111101 0111110 10111110 0011101 1010011 1011110 011011111111 111011 00111010 11101111110111 01111110 11101110 10111 0011010 10111110 011011111111 111011 001110 11101111110101 1011110 11101010 10111 101101110 10101110 1011011111111 111011 0010110 10111111110111 1011110 10111111 11111 10100111 01111111 1011011111111 111011 00101010 11101111110101 1011110 10111110 00111 01111010 11101 1011011111111 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,677 |
Words | 344 |
Sentences | 13 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 45 |
Lines Amount | 45 |
Letters per line (avg) | 29 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 1,285 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 337 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on May 03, 2023
- 1:45 min read
- 76 Views
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