Analysis of Unto one who lies at rest

Helen Hunt Jackson 1830 (Amherst, Massachusetts) – 1885 (San Francisco)



Unto one who lies at rest
'Neath the sunset, in the West,
Clover-blossoms on her breast.

Lover of each gracious thing
Which makes glad the summer-tide,
From the daisies clustering
And the violets purple-eyed,
To those shy and hidden blooms
Which in forest coverts stay,
Sending wandering perfumes
Out as guide to show the way,
All she knew, to all was kind;
None so humble or so small
That she did not seek and find
Silent friendship from them all.
Moss-cups, tiarella leaves,
Dappld like the adder's skin,
Fungus huts with ivory eaves
Which the fairies harbor in,
Regiments of fronded ferns,
Golden-rod and asters frail,
Every flaming leaf that burns
Red against the autumn pale,
Every pink-cupped wayside rose,--
All to her were dear and known;
But above them all she chose
Clover-blossoms for her own.

So they laid her to her rest
In the sun-warmed, bounteous West,
Clover-blossoms on her breast.


Scheme aaA bcbcdedefgfghihijkjklmlm aaA
Poetic Form Etheree  (33%)
Metre 1011111 101001 1010101 1011101 1110101 1010100 00100101 1110101 101011 1010001 1111101 1111111 1110111 1111101 1010111 1111 11011 10111001 1010100 100111 1010101 10010111 1010101 1001111 1100101 1011111 1010101 1110101 001111 1010101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 907
Words 156
Sentences 5
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 3, 24, 3
Lines Amount 30
Letters per line (avg) 24
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 237
Words per stanza (avg) 51
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

47 sec read
38

Helen Hunt Jackson

Helen Maria Hunt Jackson, born Helen Fiske, was an American poet and writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the United States government. more…

All Helen Hunt Jackson poems | Helen Hunt Jackson Books

0 fans

Discuss this Helen Hunt Jackson poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Unto one who lies at rest" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/17094/unto-one-who-lies-at-rest>.

    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!

    More poems by

    Helen Hunt Jackson

    »

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    4
    hours
    34
    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?

    »
    The word "poetry" is from the Greek term "poiesis", which means?
    A Making
    B Saying
    C Writing
    D Reading