Analysis of Exhortation to Prayer
William Cowper 1731 (Berkhamsted) – 1800 (Dereham)
What various hindrances we meet
In coming to a mercy seat!
Yet who that knows the worth of prayer,
But wishes to be often there?
Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw,
Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love,
Brings every blessing from above.
Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees
The weakest saint upon his knees.
While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when through weariness they fail'd,
That moment Amalek prevail'd.
Have you no words? Ah, think again,
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.
Were half the breath thus vainly spent
To heaven in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oftener be,
"Hear what the Lord has done for me."
Scheme | AABB CCDD EEFF GGHH XXXB IIJJ |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Quatrain (83%) |
Metre | 110010011 01010101 11110111 11011101 11010101 11010101 1101101 110010101 01011111 1101101 0101111 01010111 11011111 01111101 11110011 110101 11111101 11011101 0111011 10111111 01011101 110011 110111001 11011111 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 868 |
Words | 150 |
Sentences | 9 |
Stanzas | 6 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
Lines Amount | 24 |
Letters per line (avg) | 28 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 114 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 25 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 20, 2023
- 46 sec read
- 177 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Exhortation to Prayer" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/39855/exhortation-to-prayer>.
Discuss this William Cowper poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In