Analysis of I dare not leave the splendid town

Lesbia Harford 1891 (Brighton) – 1927 (Australia)



I dare not leave the splendid town
To go where morning meadows are,
For somewhere here the Future's hid
In factory, shop, or liquor bar.
And when the picture shows are closed
She goes to roam about the docks.
Oh, she has wisdom on her mouth
And blood with honey in her locks.
I dare not read of Rosamund
Or such sweet ladyhood in books,
Lest dreaming on their excellence
I should forget the Future's looks.
And I'll walk lonely all my days
Down city pavements without end,
For with young love on flowery paths
I'd have small need of her to friend.
Yea, I would fain forget to sing,
Like larks in city prison bound,
In case I should not hear her voice
Above that clatter of sweet sound.


Scheme ABCBDEFEGHIHJKLKMNON
Poetic Form Etheree  (25%)
Tetractys  (20%)
Metre 11110101 1111011 1110101 010011101 01010111 11110101 11110101 01110001 11111001 111101 11011100 11010101 01110111 11010011 111111001 11111011 11110111 11010101 01111101 01110111
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 693
Words 132
Sentences 7
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 20
Lines Amount 20
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 537
Words per stanza (avg) 130
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

40 sec read
97

Lesbia Harford

Lesbia Harford was an Australian poet, novelist and political activist. more…

All Lesbia Harford poems | Lesbia Harford Books

0 fans

Discuss this Lesbia Harford poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "I dare not leave the splendid town" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/25544/i-dare-not-leave-the-splendid-town>.

    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.
    2
    days
    8
    hours
    16
    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?

    »
    Who is the author of the renowned poem collection "Leaves of Grass"?
    A Langston Hughes
    B Robert Frost
    C Walt Whitman
    D Emily Dickinson