Analysis of Way To Arcady, The
Henry Cuyler Bunner 1885 (Oswego New York) – 1896 (Nutley New Jersey)
Oh, what's the way to Arcady,
To Arcady, to Arcady;
Oh, what's the way to Arcady,
Where all the leaves are merry?
Oh, what's the way to Arcady?
The spring is rustling in the tree,
The tree the wind is blowing through,
It sets the blossoms flickering white.
I knew not skies could burn so blue
Nor any breezes blow so light.
They blow an old-time way for me,
Across the world to Arcady.
Oh, what's the way to Arcady?
Sir Poet, with the rusty coat,
Quit mocking of the song-bird's note.
How have you heart for any tune,
You with the wayworn russet shoon?
Your scrip, a-swinging by your side,
Gapes with a gaunt mouth hungry-wide.
I'll brim it well with pieces red,
If you will tell the way to tread.
Oh, I am bound for Arcady,
And if you but keep pace with me
You tread the way to Arcady.
And where away lies Arcady,
And how long yet may the journey be?
Ah, that (quoth he) I do not know
Across the clover and the snow
Across the frost, across the flowers
Through summer seconds and winter hours
I've trod the way my whole life long,
And know not now where it may be;
My guide is but the stir to song,
That tells me I cannot go wrong,
Or clear or dark the pathway be
Upon the road to Arcady.
But how shall I do who cannot sing?
I was wont to sing, once on a time,
There is never an echo now to ring
Remembrance back to the trick of rhyme.
'Tis strange you cannot sing (quoth he),
The folk all sing in Arcady.
But how may he find Arcady
Who hath not youth nor melody?
What, know you not, old man (quoth he)--
Your hair is white, your face is wise
That Love must kiss that Mortal's eyes
Who hopes to see fair Arcady?
No gold can buy you entrance there;
But beggared Love may go all bare
No wisdom won with weariness;
But Love goes in with Folly's dress
No fame that wit could ever win;
But only Love may lead Love in
To Arcady, to Arcady.
Ah, woe is me, through all my days
Wisdom and wealth I both have got,
And fame and name, and great men's praise;
But Love, ah, Love! I have it not.
There was a time, when life was new,
But far away, and half forgot,
I only know her eyes were blue;
But Love, I fear I knew it not.
We did not wed, for lack of gold,
And she is dead, and I am old.
All things have come since then to me,
Save Love, ah, Love! and Arcady.
Ah, then I fear we part (quoth he),
My way's for Love and Arcady.
But you, you fare alone, like me;
The gray is likewise in your hair.
What love have you to lead you there,
To Arcady, to Arcady?
Ah, no, not lonely do I fare;
My true companion's Memory.
With Love he fills the Spring-time air;
With Love he clothes the Winter tree.
Oh, past this poor horizon's bound
My song goes straight to one who stands,
Her face all gladdening at the sound,
To lead me to the Spring-green lands,
To wander with enlacing hands.
The songs within my breast that stir
Are all of her, are all of her.
My maid is dead long years (quoth he),
She waits for me in Arcady.
Oh, yon's the way to Arcady,
To Arcady, to Arcady;
Oh, yon's the way to Arcady,
Where all the leaves are merry.
Scheme | AAAB Abcacaba Aaaddaaaa aba ab eeffgbggba hihi ba aa bjjakkxxllA mamacacaaababa bkkA kbkbanannooba AAAB |
---|---|
Poetic Form | Etheree (32%) |
Metre | 110111 1111 110111 1101110 110111 01110001 01011101 110101001 11111111 11010111 11111111 010111 110111 11010101 11010111 11111101 1101101 11010111 11011101 11111101 11110111 111111 01111111 110111 010111 011110101 11111111 01010001 010101010 1101001010 11011111 01111111 11110111 11111011 1111011 010111 111111101 111111101 1110110111 010110111 11110111 011101 111111 11111100 11111111 11111111 1111111 111111 11111101 1111111 11011100 1110111 11111101 11011110 1111 11111111 10011111 01010111 11111111 11011111 11010101 11010101 11111111 11111111 01110111 11111111 111101 11111111 111101 11110111 0111011 11111111 1111 11110111 111100 11110111 11110101 11110101 11111111 0111101 11110111 110111 01011111 11101110 11111111 111101 110111 1111 110111 1101110 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 2,964 |
Words | 617 |
Sentences | 34 |
Stanzas | 14 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 8, 9, 3, 2, 10, 4, 2, 2, 11, 14, 4, 13, 4 |
Lines Amount | 90 |
Letters per line (avg) | 25 |
Words per line (avg) | 7 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 162 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 43 |
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Submitted on August 03, 2020
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 3:09 min read
- 1 View
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"Way To Arcady, The" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 10 Jun 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/55578/way-to-arcady%2C-the>.
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