Analysis of LX. Life compared to a Walk
Ellis Walker 1650 (England) – 1700 (England)
As the shoe's made to serve and fit the foot,
As the leg gives the measure to the boot;
So our possessions should be measur'd by
The body's use, and its necessity.
If here you stop, content with what you need,
With what will keep you warm, your body feed;
Within the bounds of temperance you live.
But if the reins you to your wishes give;
If nature's limits you but once transgress,
You tumble headlong down a precipice
Into a boundless gulph: this we may see
If we pursue our former simile:
For lets suppose your shoe made tight and fit,
Strong, warm, and easy, as 'tis requisite,
What more can be desired from a shoe?
'Tis all that hide, or thread, and wax can do.
But if you look for more, you're hurry'd on
Beyond your bounds, and then 'tis ten to one,
That it must be more modish, pink'd, and wrought,
Then set with pearls, from farthest Indies brought,
Then with embroidery and purple shine;
No matter if 'tis useless, so 'tis fine.
So there's no farther stay, no farther bound
By those, who exceed just measures, to be found.
Scheme | ABCDEEFGHIDJKLMMNOPPQQRR |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1011110101 1011010101 11001011101 0101010100 1111101111 1111111101 0101110011 1101111101 1101011101 110110100 0101011111 110110101 1101111101 1101011100 1111010101 1111110111 111111111 0111011111 111111101 1111110101 1101000101 1101110111 1111011101 11101110111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,018 |
Words | 195 |
Sentences | 7 |
Stanzas | 1 |
Stanza Lengths | 24 |
Lines Amount | 24 |
Letters per line (avg) | 33 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 791 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 193 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:00 min read
- 102 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"LX. Life compared to a Walk" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 8 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/42907/lx.-life-compared-to-a-walk>.
Discuss this Ellis Walker poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In