Analysis of The Disappointment

Jane Taylor 1783 (London) – 1824



In tears to her mother poor Harriet came,
Let us listen to hear what she says:
"O see, dear mamma, it is pouring with rain,
We cannot go out in the chaise.

"All the week I have long'd for this holiday so,
And fancied the minutes were hours;
And now that I'm dress'd and all ready to go,
Do look at those terrible showers! "

"I'm sorry, my dear, " her kind mother replied,
The rain disappoints us to-day;
But sorrow still more that you fret for a ride,
In such an extravagant way.

"These slight disappointments are sent to prepare
For what may hereafter befall;
For seasons of real disappointment and care,
Which commonly happen to all.

"For just like to-day with its holiday lost,
Is life and its comforts at best:
Our pleasures are blighted, our purposes cross'd,
To teach us it is not our rest.

"And when those distresses and crosses appear,
With which you may shortly be tried,
You'll wonder that ever you wasted a tear
On merely the loss of a ride.

"But though the world's pleasures are fleeting and vain,
Religion is lasting and true;
Real pleasure and peace in her paths you may gain,
Nor will disappointment ensue. "


Scheme XXAX BCBC DEDE FGFG HIHI XDFD AJAJ
Poetic Form Quatrain  (86%)
Metre 01101011001 111011111 11110111011 11011001 10111111101 010010010 01111011011 111110010 11011011001 0101111 11011111101 01101001 11001011101 11101001 1101101001 11001011 1111111101 11011011 1010110101001 111111101 01101001001 11111011 11011011001 11001101 11011011001 01011001 11001001111 1101001
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,127
Words 208
Sentences 8
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 28
Letters per line (avg) 31
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 124
Words per stanza (avg) 29
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:03 min read
110

Jane Taylor

Jane Taylor was an English poet and novelist. She wrote the words to the song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", which is widely known, but it is generally forgotten who wrote it. more…

All Jane Taylor poems | Jane Taylor Books

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