Analysis of Over And Undone

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



IF one might hope that when we say farewell
To life, we two might but be one at last!
But we look back on a divided past,
And a divided future must foretell.
Apart we sowed the seed that flowers in hell,
The seed that blooms in heaven apart we cast:
See what remembrances my heart holds fast--
Ask your own heart what deeds you deem done well!

The memory I find my heaven in
Is that one hand-touch you regret as sin;
Your goodness, dear, that stood between us two
And made my hell, may make a heaven for you;
So evermore must lie our souls between
The kiss unkissed, the infinite might-have-been!


Scheme ABBAABBA CCDDXC
Poetic Form
Metre 111111111 1111111111 1111100101 0001010101 01110111001 01110100111 1101001111 1111111111 0100111100 1111110111 1101110111 01111101011 1101110101 0110100111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 604
Words 116
Sentences 5
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 6
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 33
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 232
Words per stanza (avg) 57
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
74

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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