Analysis of One Of Us Two

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



The day will dawn when one of us shall hearken
 In vain to hear a voice that has grown dumb.
And morns will  fade, noons pale, and shadows darken,
 While sad eyes watch for feet that never come.
One of us two must sometime face existence
 Alone with the memories that but sharpen pain.
And these sweet days shall shine back in the distance,
 Like dreams of summer dawns, in nights of rain.
One of us two, with tortured heart half broken,
 Shall read long-treasured letters through salt tears,
Shall kiss with anguished lips each cherished token,
 That speaks of these love-crowned, delicious years.
One of us two shall find all light, all beauty,
 All joy on earth, a tale for ever done;
Shall know henceforth that life means only duty.
 O God! O God! have pity on that one.


Scheme ABABCACAADAEFAFA
Poetic Form
Metre 0111111111 0111011111 0111110110 1111111101 1111111010 011010011101 01111110010 1111010111 11111101110 1111010111 11110111010 1111110101 11111111110 1111011101 11111111010 1111110111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 775
Words 142
Sentences 10
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 16
Lines Amount 16
Letters per line (avg) 38
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 601
Words per stanza (avg) 141
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 12, 2023

42 sec read
107

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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

All Ella Wheeler Wilcox poems | Ella Wheeler Wilcox Books

2 fans

Discuss this Ella Wheeler Wilcox poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "One Of Us Two" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/10735/one-of-us-two>.

    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!

    More poems by

    Ella Wheeler Wilcox

    »

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    1
    day
    21
    hours
    59
    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?

    »
    A long narrative poem that tells the adventures of a heroic figure is called an _______.
    A sonnet
    B ballad
    C ode
    D epic