Analysis of Harry (Engaged To Be Married) To Charley (Who Is Not)
Rosanna Eleanor Leprohon 1832 – 1879
To all my fond rhapsodies, Charley,
You have wearily listened, I fear;
As yet not an answer you’ve given
Save a shrug, or an ill-concealed sneer;
Pray, why, when I talk of my marriage,
Do you watch me with sorrowing eye?
’Tis you, hapless bachelor, Charley,
That are to be pitied—not I!
You mockingly ask me to tell you,
Since to bondage I soon must be sold,
Have I wisely chosen my fetters,
Which, at least, should be forged of pure gold.
Hem! the sole wealth my love possesses
Are her tresses of bright golden hair,
Pearly teeth, lips of rosiest coral,
Eyes I know not with what to compare.
Don’t talk about all I surrender—
My club, champagne dinners, cigars,
My hand at écarté, my harmless
Flirtations with Opera “stars.”
Think of the pleasant home, Charley—
Home! I utter the word with just pride—
Its music, soft lights, countless comforts,
Over which she will smiling preside.
And picture in fancy the welcome
That will greet my arrival each night!
How she’ll help me to take off my wrappings
With her dear little fingers so white;
The sweet silvery voice that will utter
The airiest nothings with grace,
The smiles that will dimple all over
That loving and lovely young face.
If sickness should ever o’ertake me,
O! just think how cherished I’ll be—
What loving cares, gentle caresses,
Shall be showered on fortunate me;
While you in some lone, gloomy attic,
To dull death posting off at quick pace,
Will encounter no tokens of pity
Save the smirk on some pert waiter’s face.
And who, perhaps, twelve hours after,
Bringing up your weak tea and dry toast,
Will look in, find you “gone,” and drawl forth,
“Number ten has just given up the ghost.”
Then, Charley, to good counsel listen,
Brave not an old bachelor’s fate,
But, doing as I’ve done, go marry
A loving and loveable mate.
Scheme | ABCBXDAD XEFEXGXG HIXIAJXJ XKFKHLHL AAXAXLAL HMXMCNAN |
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Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1111110 111001011 111110110 101111011 111111110 1111111 111010010 1111111 1111111 111011111 111010110 111111111 101111010 101011101 10111110 111111101 110111010 11011001 1111110 0101101 11010110 111001111 110111010 101111001 010010010 111101011 111111111 101101011 0110011110 011011 011110110 11001011 11011011 11111011 110110010 111011001 110111010 111101111 1010110110 101111101 010111010 101111011 110111011 1011110101 110111010 1111101 110111110 010011 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,795 |
Words | 324 |
Sentences | 15 |
Stanzas | 6 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8, 8, 8 |
Lines Amount | 48 |
Letters per line (avg) | 29 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 230 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 53 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:37 min read
- 112 Views
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"Harry (Engaged To Be Married) To Charley (Who Is Not)" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 1 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/33026/harry-%28engaged-to-be-married%29-to-charley-%28who-is-not%29>.
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