Analysis of Fortune

Zora Bernice May Cross 1890 (Eagle Farm, Queensland) – 1964 (Glenbrook, New South Wales)



Dame Fortune’s jade with a fanciful horn
Of silver ambitions she warns of the flame;
With pearls for the princes and tears night and morn
For poor little poets who fluttered for fame,
Who smile when she sings as she dances along;
"Come; woo me with courage and delicate song."
I followed her once, but she wearied me soon.
All careless was I of her roseate quest.
I built a dream house, while the stars were in tune,
And slipped into silence and exquisite rest.
But she, like her sex, when my passion seemed cold,
Ran hither and offered me all of her gold.
I went to the door, and I looked at her ware
Of agate and amber and cool crysolite;
I shook my wise head with a holiday air,
And bade her good-day in a daring delight
For I am a fool, and my fortune is made;
I care not a fig for a crown or a spade;
I dwell with the elves ‘neath the odorous sky;
The dews of the dawn brush my gables with glee;
And moonlights and sunlights and lovers pass by
All humming this song as they peep upon me:
"Heigh-ho! For the fool who can pity all pelf,
And finds in his bliss that his fortune’s himself."


Scheme ABABCCDEDEFFGEGHIIJKJKLL
Poetic Form
Metre 1101101001 11001011101 11101001101 11101011011 11111111001 11111001001 11001111011 11011101001 11011101001 01011001001 11101111011 11001011101 11101011101 110010011 1111110101 01011001001 11101011011 11101101101 11101101001 01101111011 010101011 11011111011 11101111011 01011111001
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 1,082
Words 218
Sentences 8
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 24
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 842
Words per stanza (avg) 214
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:04 min read
59

Zora Bernice May Cross

Zora Bernice May Cross (18 May 1890 – 22 January 1964) was an Australian poet, best-selling novelist and journalist.  more…

All Zora Bernice May Cross poems | Zora Bernice May Cross Books

0 fans

Discuss this Zora Bernice May Cross poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Fortune" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/42582/fortune>.

    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!

    March 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    2
    days
    17
    hours
    43
    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?

    »
    "Now I become myself. It's taken time, many years and places."
    A Rita Dove
    B May Sarton
    C Robert Frost
    D W.H. Auden