Analysis of Always At Sea



Always at sea I think about the dead.
On barques invisible they seem to sail
The self-same course; and from the decks cry 'Hail'!
Then I recall old words that they have said,
And see their faces etched upon the mist-
Dear faces I have kissed.

Always the dead seem very close at sea.
The coarse vibrations of the earth debar
Our spirit friends from coming where we are.
But through God's ether, unimpeded, free,
They wing their way, the ocean deeps above-
And find the hearts that love.

Always at sea my dead come very near.
A growing host; some old in spirit lore,
And some who crossed to find the other shore
But yesterday. All, all, I see and hear
With inner senses, while the voice of faith
Proclaims-there is no death.


Scheme ABBACC DEEDFF EEEEXX
Poetic Form
Metre 111110101 1101001111 0111010111 111111111 0111010101 110111 101110111 010101011 10101110111 111100101 1111010101 010111 111111101 0101110101 0111110101 110111101 1101010111 011111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 713
Words 136
Sentences 10
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 31
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 187
Words per stanza (avg) 45
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

41 sec read
123

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox was an American author and poet. more…

All Ella Wheeler Wilcox poems | Ella Wheeler Wilcox Books

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