Analysis of Admiral Death
Henry John Newbolt, Sir 1862 – 1938
Boys, are ye calling a toast to-night?
(Hear what the sea-wind saith)
Fill for a bumper strong and bright,
And here's to Admiral Death!
He's sailed in a hundred builds o' boat,
He's fought in a thousand kinds o' coat,
He's the senior flag of all that float,
And his name's Admiral Death!
Which of you looks for a service free?
(Hear what the sea-wind saith)
The rules o' the service are but three
When ye sail with Admiral Death.
Steady your hand in time o' squalls,
Stand to the last by him that falls,
And answer clear to the voice that calls,
"Ay, Ay! Admiral Death!"
How will ye know him among the rest?
(Hear what the sea-wind saith)
By the glint o' the stars that cover his breast
Ye may find Admiral Death.
By the forehead grim with an ancient scar,
By the voice that rolls like thunder far,
By the tenderest eyes of all that are,
Ye may know Admiral Death.
Where are the lads that sailed before?
(Hear what the sea-wind saith)
Their bones are white by many a shore,
They sleep with Admiral Death.
Oh! but they loved him, young and old,
For he left the laggard, and took the bold,
And the fight was fought, and the story's told,
And they sleep with Admiral Death.
Scheme | aBabcccb dBdbeeeb fBfbgggb hBhbiiib |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 111100111 110111 11010101 0111001 110010111 110010111 101011111 0111001 111110101 110111 011010111 11111001 10110111 11011111 010110111 111001 111110101 110111 10110111011 1111001 1010111101 101111101 10111111 1111001 11011101 110111 111111001 1111001 11111101 1110100101 0011100101 01111001 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,148 |
Words | 225 |
Sentences | 14 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8 |
Lines Amount | 32 |
Letters per line (avg) | 28 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 223 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 55 |
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Submitted on August 03, 2020
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:09 min read
- 8 Views
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"Admiral Death" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/55582/admiral-death>.
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