Analysis of A Trifle

Henry Timrod 1828 (Charleston) – 1867 (Columbia)



I know not why, but ev'n to me
My songs seem sweet when read to thee.

Perhaps in this the pleasure lies -
I read my thoughts within thine eyes.

And so dare fancy that my art
May sink as deeply as thy heart.

Perhaps I love to make my words
Sing round thee like so many birds,

Or, maybe, they are only sweet
As they seem offerings at thy feet.

Or haply, Lily, when I speak,
I think, perchance, they touch thy cheek,

Or with a yet more precious bliss,
Die on thy red lips in a kiss.

Each reason here - I cannot tell -
Or all perhaps may solve the spell.

But if she watch when I am by,
Lily may deeper see than I.


Scheme AA BB CC DD EE FF GG HH II
Poetic Form Couplet 
Metre 111111111 11111111 01010101 11110111 01110111 11110111 01111111 11111101 11011101 111100111 1110111 11011111 11011101 11111001 11011101 11011101 11111111 10110111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 600
Words 130
Sentences 8
Stanzas 9
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2
Lines Amount 18
Letters per line (avg) 26
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 51
Words per stanza (avg) 14
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

39 sec read
43

Henry Timrod

Henry Timrod was an American poet, often called the poet laureate of the Confederacy. more…

All Henry Timrod poems | Henry Timrod Books

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