Analysis of Don't Drink
Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919
Don't drink, boys, don't!
There is nothing of happiness, pleasure, or cheer,
In brandy, in whiskey, in rum, ale, or beer.
If they cheer you when drunk, you are certain to pay
In headaches and crossness the following day.
Don't drink, boys, don't!
Boys, let it alone!
Turn your back on your deadliest enemy-Drink!
An assassin disguised; nor for one moment think,
As some rashly say, that
true
women admire
The man who can boast that he's playing with fire.
Boys, let it alone!
No, boys, don't drink!
If the habit's begun, stop now! stop to-day!
Ere the spirit of thirst leads you on and away
Into vice, shame, and drunkenness. This is the goal,
Where the spirit of thirst leads the slave of the bowl.
No, boys,
don't
drink!
Boys, touch not, nor taste!
Don't think you can stop at the social 'First Glass.'
Too many have boasted that power, alas!
And found they were slaves to this seeming good friend,
And have grown into drunkards and knaves, in the end.
Boys, touch not, nor taste!
Don't drink, boys,
Don't
!
If the loafers and idlers scoff, never heed:
True men and true women will wish you 'God-speed.'
There is nothing of purity, pleasure, or cheer
To be gotten from whiskey, wine, brandy, or beer.
Don't drink, boys,
Don't
!
Scheme | AbbccA DeexxxxD eccffgAe HiijjH GA kkbbGA |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 1111 111011001011 01001001111 111111111011 010101001 1111 11101 111111001001 101001111101 11111 1 1001 011111110110 11101 1111 1010111111 101011111001 011101001101 101011101101 11 1 1 11111 11111101011 11011011001 01101111011 011011001001 11111 111 1 1 1010011101 11011011111 111011001011 111011011011 111 1 1 |
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,204 |
Words | 223 |
Sentences | 24 |
Stanzas | 5 |
Stanza Lengths | 6, 8, 8, 6, 10 |
Lines Amount | 38 |
Letters per line (avg) | 24 |
Words per line (avg) | 6 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 185 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 44 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:10 min read
- 65 Views
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"Don't Drink" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/10591/don%27t-drink>.
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