Analysis of A Guest

Ambrose Bierce 1842 (Meigs County) – 1914 (Chihuahua)



Death, are you well? I trust you have no cough
That's painful or in any way annoying
No kidney trouble that may carry you off,
Or heart disease to keep you from enjoying
Your meals-and ours. 'T were very sad indeed
To have to quit the busy life you lead.

You've been quite active lately for so old
A person, and not very strong-appearing.
I'm apprehensive, somehow, that my bold,
Bad brother gave you trouble in the spearing.
And my two friends-I fear, sir, that you ran
Quite hard for them, especially the man.

I crave your pardon: 'twas no fault of mine;
If you are overworked I'm sorry, very.
Come in, old man, and have a glass of wine.
What shall it be-Marsala, Port or Sherry?
What! just a mug of blood? That's funny grog
To ask a friend for, eh? Well, take it, hog!


Scheme XAXAXX BABACC DEDEFF
Poetic Form
Metre 1111111111 11010101010 11010111011 11011111010 110101010101 1111010111 1111010111 01001101010 10101111 11011100010 0111111111 111101001 1111011111 1110111010 1011010111 11110101110 1101111101 1101111111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 762
Words 148
Sentences 14
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 32
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 195
Words per stanza (avg) 49
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

45 sec read
78

Ambrose Bierce

Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist, and satirist. more…

All Ambrose Bierce poems | Ambrose Bierce Books

2 fans

Discuss this Ambrose Bierce poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "A Guest" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 30 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/1624/a-guest>.

    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.
    0
    days
    13
    hours
    1
    minute

    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?

    »
    "It's neither red nor sweet. It doesn't melt or turn over, break or harden, so it can't feel pain."
    A Marianne Moore
    B Billy Collins
    C Rita Dove
    D Anne Sexton