Analysis of Leave-Taking
Louise Bogan 1897 (Livermore Falls) – 1970 (New York City)
I do not know where either of us can turn
Just at first, waking from the sleep of each other.
I do not know how we can bear
The river struck by the gold plummet of the moon,
Or many trees shaken together in the darkness.
We shall wish not to be alone
And that love were not dispersed and set free—
Though you defeat me,
And I be heavy upon you.
But like earth heaped over the heart
Is love grown perfect.
Like a shell over the beat of life
Is love perfect to the last.
So let it be the same
Whether we turn to the dark or to the kiss of another;
Let us know this for leavetaking,
That I may not be heavy upon you,
That you may blind me no more.
Scheme | XAXXXXBBC XXXXXAXCX |
---|---|
Poetic Form | |
Metre | 11111101111 111101011110 11111111 010110110101 1101100100010 11111101 0110101011 11011 01110011 11111001 11101 101100111 1101101 111101 101110111011010 111111 1111110011 1111111 |
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 654 |
Words | 138 |
Sentences | 7 |
Stanzas | 2 |
Stanza Lengths | 9, 9 |
Lines Amount | 18 |
Letters per line (avg) | 28 |
Words per line (avg) | 8 |
Letters per stanza (avg) | 248 |
Words per stanza (avg) | 68 |
Font size:
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 02, 2023
- 41 sec read
- 87 Views
Citation
Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Leave-Taking" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 11 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/26133/leave-taking>.
Discuss this Louise Bogan poem analysis with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In