Analysis of Wert Thou but ill—that I might show thee

Emily Dickinson 1830 (Amherst) – 1886 (Amherst)



Wert Thou but ill—that I might show thee
How long a Day I could endure
Though thine attention stop not on me
Nor the least signal, Me assure—

Wert Thou but Stranger in ungracious country—
And Mine—the Door
Thou paused at, for a passing bounty—
No More—

Accused—wert Thou—and Myself—Tribunal—
Convicted—Sentenced—Ermine—not to Me
Half the Condition, thy Reverse—to follow—
Just to partake—the infamy—

The Tenant of the Narrow Cottage, wert Thou—
Permit to be
The Housewife in thy low attendance
Contenteth Me—

No Service hast Thou, I would not achieve it—
To die—or live—
The first—Sweet, proved I, ere I saw thee—
For Life—be Love—


Scheme ABAB ACAC XAXA XAXA XXAX
Poetic Form Quatrain  (80%)
Etheree  (40%)
Tetractys  (20%)
Metre 111111111 11011101 110101111 10110101 111100110 0101 111101010 11 011101010 0101010111 10010101110 11010100 01010101011 0111 01011010 11 11011111011 1111 011111111 1111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 672
Words 107
Sentences 1
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 25
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 99
Words per stanza (avg) 21
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

32 sec read
139

Emily Dickinson

Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. more…

All Emily Dickinson poems | Emily Dickinson Books

50 fans

Discuss this Emily Dickinson poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Wert Thou but ill—that I might show thee" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/12421/wert-thou-but-ill%E2%80%94that-i-might-show-thee>.

    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
    0
    hours
    56
    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 poem that has no rhyme is called ________.
    A a limerick
    B a song
    C a ballad
    D free verse