Analysis of Sorrow's Uses

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1855 (Janesville) – 1919



The uses of sorrow I comprehend
Better and better at each year’s end.

Deeper and deeper I seem to see
Why and wherefore it has to be

Only after the dark, wet days
Do we fully rejoice in the sun’s bright rays.

Sweeter the crust tastes after the fast
Than the sated gourmand’s finest repast.

The faintest cheer sounds never amiss
To the actor who once has heard a hiss.

To one who the sadness of freedom knows,
Light seem the fetters love may impose.

And he who has dwelt with his heart alone,
Hears all the music in friendship’s tone.

So better and better I comprehend,
How sorrow ever would be our friend.


Scheme AA BB CC XA DD EE FF AA
Poetic Form
Metre 010110101 100101111 100101111 1011111 10100111 11100100111 100111001 10101101 010111001 1010111101 1110101101 110101101 0111111101 110100101 110010101 1101011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 609
Words 116
Sentences 8
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2
Lines Amount 16
Letters per line (avg) 30
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 60
Words per stanza (avg) 14
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

34 sec read
101

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

    "Sorrow's Uses" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/10800/sorrow%27s-uses>.

    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!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    1
    day
    23
    hours
    42
    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?

    »
    Which of the following was the last to evolve?
    A Invective
    B Dithyramb
    C Epic poetry
    D Tragedy