Analysis of Sonnet XXIX: I Think of Thee

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



I think of thee!--my thoughts do twine and bud
About thee,as wild vines, about a tree,
Put out broad leaves, and soon there's nought to see
Except the straggling green which hides the wood.
Yet, O my palm-tree, be it understood
I will not have my thoughts instead of thee
Who art dearer, better! Rather, instantly
Renew thy presence; as a strong tree should,
Rustle thy boughs and set thy trunk all bare,
And let these bands of greenery which insphere thee
Drop heavily down,--burst, shattered, everywhere!
Because, in this deep joy to see and hear thee
And breathe within thy shadow a new air,
I do not think of thee--I am too near thee.


Scheme ABBCCBBCDBDBDB
Poetic Form
Metre 1111111101 011110101 1111011111 010111101 111111101 1111110111 11101010100 0111010111 1011011111 01111100111 1100111010 01011111011 010111011 11111111111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 646
Words 120
Sentences 6
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 35
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 495
Words per stanza (avg) 115
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

36 sec read
184

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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

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