Analysis of Fallen Leaves
Robert William Service 1874 – 1958
Why should I be the first to fall
Of all the leaves on this old tree?
Though sadly soon I know that all
Will lose their hold and follow me.
While my birth-brothers bravely blow,
Why should I be first to go?
Why should I be the last to cling
Of all the leaves on this bleak bough?
I've fluttered since the fire of Spring
And I am worn and withered now.
I would escape the Winter gale
And sleep soft-silvered by a snail.
When swoop the legions of the snow
To pitch their tents in roaring weather
We fallen leaves will lie below
And rot rejoicingly together;
And from our rich and dark decay
Will laugh our brothers of the May.
Scheme | ABABCC DEDEFF CGCGHH |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 11110111 11011111 11011111 11110101 11110101 1111111 11110111 11011111 110101011 01110101 11010101 0111101 11010101 111101010 11011101 011010 011010101 111010101 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 615 |
Words | 124 |
Sentences | 8 |
Stanzas | 3 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 6, 6 |
Lines Amount | 18 |
Letters per line (avg) | 27 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 164 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 41 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 30, 2023
- 37 sec read
- 371 Views
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"Fallen Leaves" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/32111/fallen-leaves>.
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