Analysis of Past and Future.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1806 (Kelloe) – 1861 (Florence)



MY future will not copy fair my past
 On any leaf but Heaven's. Be fully done,
 Supernal Will ! I would not fain be one
 Who, satisfying thirst and breaking fast
 Upon the fulness of the heart, at last
 Saith no grace after meat. My wine hath run
 Indeed out of my cup, and there is none
 To gather up the bread of my repast
 Scattered and trampled ! Yet I find some good
In earth's green herbs, and streams that bubble up
Clear from the darkling ground, -- content until
I sit with angels before better food.
Dear Christ ! when thy new vintage fills my cup,
This hand shall shake no more, nor that wine spill.


Scheme ABBAABBACDEFDE
Poetic Form
Metre 1101110111 11011101101 11111111 110010101 010110111 1111011111 0111110111 110101111 1001011111 0111011101 110111001 1111001101 1111110111 1111111111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 605
Words 117
Sentences 8
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 33
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 466
Words per stanza (avg) 118
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 26, 2023

35 sec read
165

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent English poets of the Victorian era. more…

All Elizabeth Barrett Browning poems | Elizabeth Barrett Browning Books

20 fans

Discuss this Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Past and Future." Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 5 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/10247/past-and-future.>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    26
    days
    20
    hours
    33
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Who wrote the poem "A Fairy Song"?
    A William Blake
    B Geoffrey Chaucer
    C Emily Dickinson
    D William Shakespeare