Analysis of Love Sonnet XLII

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



My true mind makes as many loves of you
As my full heart contentedly can hold.
And when the one grows dull, the other cold,
Yet comes another swifter in to woo.
I could not rue such changing retinue
Nor chastise circumstance that keeps me bold.
I make you young or middle-aged or old
Just as it pleases my own whim to do.

And then to counterbalance what you give
Thus all unwittingly, I smile or frown,
Am thoughtful, mirthful, grave or sunny-eyed
To meet your mood and help you best to live.
In me, all women to your wish bow down.
In you, all men at my desire abide.


Scheme ABBAABBA XCDXCD
Poetic Form
Metre 1111110111 1111010011 0101110101 1101010011 111111010 101101111 1111110111 1111011111 011100111 1101001111 110111101 1111011111 0111011111 01111101001
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 563
Words 112
Sentences 8
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 6
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 32
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 221
Words per stanza (avg) 55
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

33 sec read
61

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

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