Analysis of Sonnet XLII: Composed During a Walk
Charlotte Smith 1749 (London) – 1806 (Tilford, Surrey)
The dark and pillowy cloud, the sallow trees,
Seem o'er the ruins of the year to mourn;
And, cold and hollow, the inconstant breeze
Sobs thro' the falling leaves and wither'd fern.
O'er the tall brow of yonder chalky bourn,
The evening shades their gather'd darkness fling,
While, by the lingering light, I scarce discern
The shrieking night-jar sail on heavy wing.
Ah! yet a little—and propitious Spring
Crown'd with fresh flowers shall wake the woodland strain;
But no gay change revolving seasons bring
To call forth pleasure from the soul of pain;
Bid Syren Hope resume her long-lost part,
And chase the vulture Care—that feeds upon the heart.
Scheme | ABACBDCDDEDEFF |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 01011011 11001010111 01010011 1101010101 1001111011 0101110101 11010011101 0101111101 1101000101 1111011011 1111010101 1111010111 111010111 010101110101 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 647 |
Words | 111 |
Sentences | 5 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 14 |
Lines Amount | 14 |
Letters per line (avg) | 37 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 513 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 109 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 34 sec read
- 118 Views
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"Sonnet XLII: Composed During a Walk" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/5633/sonnet-xlii%3A-composed-during-a-walk>.
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