Analysis of Missing

Katharine Tynan 1861 (Ireland) – 1931



To Leucha Mary Warner

He is 'Missing,' and forlorn
Drag her days in grief and pain.
Every morn a hope is born,
Only to be lost again.

'Missing!' Almost better 'Killed.'
The long anguish breaks her heart
That's a dead thing, numbed and chilled
Till the live fear bids it start.

Now a knocking at the door,
Now a shouting in the street,
Makes her poor heart run before,
The most bitter news to meet.

'Missing!' It may be he dies
'Mid his foes and comfortless.
When sleep shuts her heavy eyes,
Still she seeks him in distress.

Dear, he is not missing, not lost.
Rest your heart as on a bed.
For the One who loves him most
Knows where he has laid his head.

He accounted of all worth,
This beloved bought with a price,
Watchers look East, South, and North
From the heights of Paradise

Lest that he take any ill.
Still the Mighty Lover goes,
Seeks the beloved o'er many a hill.
Be at rest, dear child! He knows!


Scheme X AXAX BCBC DEDE FFFX XGXG XHXH IJIJ
Poetic Form
Metre 111010 1110001 1010101 10010111 1011101 101101 0110101 1011101 1011111 1010101 1010001 1011101 0110111 1011111 11101 1110101 1111001 11111011 1111101 1011111 1111111 1010111 1011101 1011101 101110 1111101 1010101 1001101001 1111111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 885
Words 179
Sentences 17
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 29
Letters per line (avg) 24
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 86
Words per stanza (avg) 22
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

53 sec read
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Katharine Tynan

Katharine Tynan was an Irish-born writer, known mainly for her novels and poetry. more…

All Katharine Tynan poems | Katharine Tynan Books

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