Analysis of Microcosm

Edith Nesbit 1858 (Kennington, Surrey ) – 1924 (New Romney, Kent)



SHE and I--we kissed and vowed
That should be which could not be;
Just as if mere vows endowed
Love with immortality!
Ah, had vows but kept us true,
As we thought them sure to do!

She and I--such tiny parts
Of the Evolution-plan--
Yet can hold within our hearts
All the misery of man:
All the ages did prepare,
All we are and all we bear.

She and I--mere counters, toys
Nature uses for her game--
Pity that we long for joys,
And feel sorrows all the same!
Just as though our wills were free,
As we dreamed them--I and she!


Scheme ABABCC DEDEFF GHGHBB
Poetic Form
Metre 1011101 1111111 1111101 110100 1111111 1111111 1011101 100101 11101101 1010011 1010101 1110111 1011101 1010101 1011111 0110101 11110101 1111101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 530
Words 104
Sentences 6
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 22
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 132
Words per stanza (avg) 34
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

31 sec read
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Edith Nesbit

Edith Nesbit (married name Edith Bland) was an English author and poet; she published her books for children under the name of E. Nesbit. She wrote or collaborated on more than 60 books of children's literature. She was also a political activist and co-founded the Fabian Society, a socialist organisation later affiliated to the Labour Party. more…

All Edith Nesbit poems | Edith Nesbit Books

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    Which of these famous poems is written in villanelle form?
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