Analysis of A Dawn Song
George William Russell 1867 (Lurgan) – 1935 (Bournemouth)
While the earth is dark and grey
How I laugh within: I know
In my breast what ardours gay
From the morning overflow.
Though the cheek be white and wet
In my heart no fear may fall:
There my chieftain leads, and yet
Ancient battle-trumpets call.
Bend on me no hasty frown
If my spirit slight your cares:
Sunlike still my joy looks down
Changing tears to beamy airs.
Think me not of fickle heart
If with joy my bosom swells
Though your ways from mine depart:
In the true are no farewells.
What I love in you I find
Everywhere. A friend I greet
In each flower and tree and wind--
Oh, but life is sweet, is sweet.
What to you are bolts and bars
Are to me the hands that guide
To the freedom of the stars
Where my golden kinsmen bide.
From my mountain top I view:
Twilight's purple flower is gone,
And I send my song to you
On the level light of dawn.
--November 15, 1896
Scheme | ABAB CDCD EFEF GHGH IJIJ KLKL MNMN X |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1011101 1110111 011111 101010 1011101 0111111 1110101 1010101 1111101 1110111 111111 101111 1111101 1111101 1111101 001111 1110111 100111 01100101 1111111 1111101 1110111 1010101 111011 1110111 1101011 0111111 1010111 010 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 889 |
Words | 178 |
Sentences | 9 |
Stanzas | 8 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1 |
Lines Amount | 29 |
Letters per line (avg) | 23 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 84 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 22 |
Font size:
Submitted on August 03, 2020
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 53 sec read
- 15 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"A Dawn Song" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/55420/a-dawn-song>.
Discuss this George William Russell 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