Analysis of Song Of The Wheelman

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



Over my desk in a dark office bending.
Dim seems the sunlight and dull seems the day;
But when the afternoon draws toward an ending,
Here waits my steel steed-I mount, and away!
Like cobwebs of silver I see in the distance
The glint of bright wheels, I must follow and find.
What life in the air now! what zest in existence,
As faster and faster I race with the wind.

Down the smooth pavements, and out toward the heather-
Ho! fellows, ho! I am coming you see!

Breast to breast, now let us speed on together-
Who dares try mounting that hillside with me?
Over the bridge I go-past the green meadows,
Au revoir, boys, I will ride on alone!
For in yon cottage half hid in the shadows,
Waiting for me, is my sweetheart-my own.

She watches my wheel as it glitters and glistens
Down the steep crest of the daisy-starred hill.

Fair is her cheek as she waits there and listens
For the sure signal blown tenderly shrill.
Sweetheart, my sweetheart, I'm coming, I'm coming.
Here, sturdy steed, you may stand by the wall.

A bird to her mate has flown swift thro' the gloaming,
Love, youth and summer, thank God for them all.


Scheme ABABCDCD EF EFGHGH CI XIAJ AJ
Poetic Form
Metre 10110011010 110101101 11001101110 1111111001 11110110010 01111111001 110011110010 11001011101 101100101010 1101111011 11111111010 111101111 1001111011 1011111101 1011011001 101111111 11011111001 1011101011 11011111010 1011011001 111110110 1101111101 011011111010 1101011111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,098
Words 209
Sentences 17
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 8, 2, 6, 2, 4, 2
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 36
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 144
Words per stanza (avg) 35
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:03 min read
44

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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