Analysis of What Have I Done For You

William Ernest Henley 1849 (Gloucester) – 1903 (Woking)



What have I done for you,
England, my England?
What is there I would not do,
England, my own?
With your glorious eyes austere,
As the Lord were walking near,
Whispering terrible things and dear
As the Song on your bugles blown,
England -
Round the world on your bugles blown!

Where shall the watchful Sun,
England, my England,
Match the master-work you've done,
England, my own?
When shall he rejoice agen
Such a breed of mighty men
As come forward, one to ten,
To the Song on your bugles blown,
England -
Down the years on your bugles blown?

Ever the faith endures,
England, my England:-
'Take and break us: we are yours,
'England, my own!
'Life is good, and joy runs high
'Between English earth and sky:
'Death is death; but we shall die
'To the Song on your bugles blown,
'England -
'To the stars on your bugles blown!

They call you proud and hard,
England, my England:
You with worlds to watch and ward,
England, my own!
You whose mailed hand keeps the keys
Of such teeming destinies
You could know nor dread nor ease
Were the Song on your bugles blown,
England,
Round the Pit on your bugles blown!

Mother of Ships whose might,
England, my England,
Is the fierce old Sea's delight,
England, my own,
Chosen daughter of the Lord,
Spouse-in-Chief of the ancient sword,
There's the menace of the Word
In the Song on your bugles blown,
England -
Out of heaven on your bugles blown!


Scheme aBaCdddcBc eBeCcffCBc gBgChhhCBc xBiCjjjcBc kBkCiixcBc
Poetic Form Etheree  (32%)
Tetractys  (24%)
Metre 111111 10110 1111111 1011 11100101 1010101 100100101 10111101 10 10111101 110101 10110 1010111 1011 111011 1011101 1110111 10111101 10 10111101 100101 10110 1011111 1011 1110111 0110101 1111111 10111101 10 10111101 111101 10110 1111101 1011 1111101 1110100 1111111 00111101 10 10111101 101111 10110 1011101 1011 1010101 10110101 1010101 00111101 10 111011101
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,339
Words 256
Sentences 11
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 10, 10, 10, 10, 10
Lines Amount 50
Letters per line (avg) 21
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 212
Words per stanza (avg) 51
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:17 min read
113

William Ernest Henley

William Ernest Henley was an English poet, critic and editor, best remembered for his 1875 poem "Invictus". more…

All William Ernest Henley poems | William Ernest Henley Books

3 fans

Discuss this William Ernest Henley poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "What Have I Done For You" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/40585/what-have-i-done-for-you>.

    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.
    2
    days
    20
    hours
    18
    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?

    »
    The opposite of poetry is _______.
    A Verse
    B Somnolence
    C Prose
    D Literalism