Analysis of Leave Me, O Love, Which Reachest But to Dust

Sir Philip Sidney 1554 (Penshurst, Kent) – 1586 (Zutphen)



Leave me, O Love, which reachest but to dust,
And thou my mind aspire to higher things:
Grow rich in that which never taketh rust:
Whatever fades, but fading pleasure brings.

Draw in thy beams, and humble all thy might,
To that sweet yoke, where lasting freedoms be:
Which breaks the clouds and opens forth the light,
That doth both shine and give us sight to see.

O take fast hold, let that light be thy guide,
In this small course which birth draws out to death,
And think how evil becometh him to slide,
Who seeketh heaven, and comes of heavenly breath.
Then farewell world, thy uttermost I see,
Eternal Love, maintain thy life in me.


Scheme ABAB CDCD EFEFDD
Poetic Form
Metre 111111111 0111011101 1101110101 101110101 1011010111 1111110101 1101010101 1111011111 1111111111 0111111111 011101111 11100111001 1111111 0101011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 645
Words 119
Sentences 5
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 6
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 36
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 166
Words per stanza (avg) 39
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 25, 2023

35 sec read
224

Sir Philip Sidney

Sir Philip Sidney was an English poet, courtier, scholar and soldier who is remembered as one of the most prominent figures of the Elizabethan age. more…

All Sir Philip Sidney poems | Sir Philip Sidney Books

0 fans

Discuss this Sir Philip Sidney poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Leave Me, O Love, Which Reachest But to Dust" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/35252/leave-me%2C-o-love%2C-which-reachest-but-to-dust>.

    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!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    16
    hours
    11
    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?

    »
    Who wrote "I have taken the bones you hardened and built daughters"?
    A Lucille Clifton
    B Robert Hayden
    C Maya Angelou
    D Sylvia Plath