Analysis of A Bard's Epitaph.
Robert Burns 1759 (Alloway) – 1796 (Dumfries)
Is there a whim-inspired fool,
Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule,
Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool,
Let him draw near;
And owre this grassy heap sing dool,
And drap a tear.
Is there a bard of rustic song,
Who, noteless, steals the crowds among,
That weekly this area throng,
O, pass not by!
But with a frater-feeling strong,
Here heave a sigh.
Is there a man, whose judgment clear,
Can others teach the course to steer,
Yet runs, himself, life's mad career,
Wild as the wave;
Here pause, and, through the starting tear,
Survey this grave.
The poor inhabitant below
Was quick to learn and wise to know,
And keenly felt the friendly glow,
And softer flame,
But thoughtless follies laid him low,
And stain'd his name!
Reader, attend, whether thy soul
Soars fancy's flights beyond the pole,
Or darkling grubs this earthly hole,
In low pursuit;
Know, prudent, cautious self-control,
Is wisdom's root.
Scheme | AAABAC DXDEDE BBBFCF GGGHGH IIIJIJ |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Tetractys (30%) Etheree (20%) |
Metre | 11010101 11111111 11111111 1111 01110111 0101 11011101 1110101 11011001 1111 11010101 1101 11011101 11010111 11011101 1101 11010101 0111 01010001 11110111 01010101 0101 11010111 0111 10011011 1110101 1111101 0101 11010101 111 |
Closest metre | Iambic trimeter |
Characters | 892 |
Words | 163 |
Sentences | 6 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 |
Lines Amount | 30 |
Letters per line (avg) | 23 |
Words per line (avg) | 5 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 140 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 32 |
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Submitted on August 03, 2020
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 50 sec read
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"A Bard's Epitaph." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/56493/a-bard%27s-epitaph.>.
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