Analysis of Quatrains to the Sun

Harry Crosby 1898 (Boston) – 1929 (New York City)



I
A sunfort flourished in my sunless heart
Beyond the Sun. Here in a tower apart
The sunbirds of my lady's eyes were caged
Alas, poor targets for the sun-god's dart.

The Sun at Chartres seen through an open door
Was like a nest, wherein I hatched a score
Of red-gold sun-thoughts. Now unheralded
They change to sun-nymphs on my heart's dark shore.

The Sun at noon is like a pool of gold
Towards whose uncertain brink the clouds have rolled
To quench their thirst. Likewise the invisible winds
Drink fire, and all my heart is sun-consoled.

Like to a giant dragon in his cage
Of clouds the Sun in unconcealéd rage
Glares down across the magic of the world
Intent upon this untried pasturage.

The Sun is a red arrow plunged to rest
In the dark target of the sea's wild breast
But morning shall unveil the gentle scene
Of sun-girls bathing in a palimpsest.


Scheme XAAXA BBXB CCXC DDXD EEXA
Poetic Form
Metre 1 01100111 01011001001 011110101 0111010111 01110111101 1101011101 1111110100 1111111111 0111110111 01101010111 11111001001 11001111101 1101010011 11010111 1101010101 01011011 0110110111 0011010111 1101010101 11110001
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 849
Words 162
Sentences 9
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 5, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 21
Letters per line (avg) 32
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 135
Words per stanza (avg) 31
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

49 sec read
98

Harry Crosby

Harry Lillis Crosby III is an American actor, singer, and investment banker. more…

All Harry Crosby poems | Harry Crosby Books

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