Analysis of Over And Done

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



WE might have held back from Love's draught divine
For many a wistful sad-and-happy day,
Tasting the voluntary sweet delay
Of lips that at the cup's edge touch the wine,
Yet will not drink, knowing that when the fine
Eagerly tasted thirst grows pain, they may
Drink deep. We might have missed Love's only way,
And thou and I been never mine and thine.

Instead, we sprang straight to the hidden shrine,
Nor lingered in the temple's outer part;
We plucked our rose to die upon our heart,
Nor left it on its tree to slowly pine:
It dies more quickly, for our heart is hot;
But, oh, if we had seen, yet plucked it not!


Scheme ABBAABBA ACCADD
Poetic Form
Metre 1111111101 11001010101 1001000101 1111011101 1111101101 1001011111 1111111101 0101110101 0111110101 1100010101 111011101101 1111111101 11110110111 1111111111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 622
Words 118
Sentences 4
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 6
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 238
Words per stanza (avg) 58
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
46

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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