Analysis of While the Fates Sleep

Lucy Maud Montgomery 1874 (New London, Prince Edward Island) – 1942 (Toronto)



Come, let us to the sunways of the west,
Hasten, while crystal dews the rose-cups fill,
Let us dream dreams again in our blithe quest
O'er whispering wold and hill.
Castles of air yon wimpling valleys keep
Where milk-white mist steals from the purpling sea,
They shall be ours in the moon's wizardry,
While the fates, wearied, sleep.

The viewless spirit of the wind will sing
In the soft starshine by the reedy mere,
The elfin harps of hemlock boughs will ring
Fitfully far and near;
The fields will yield their trove of spice and musk,
And balsam from the glens of pine will fall,
Till twilight weaves its tangled shadows all
In one dim web of dusk.

Let us put tears and memories away,
While the fates sleep time stops for revelry;
Let us look, speak, and kiss as if no day
Has been or yet will be;
Let us make friends with laughter 'neath the moon,
With music on the immemorial shore,
Yea, let us dance as lovers danced of yore­
The fates will waken soon!


Scheme ABABCDDC EFEFGHHG IDIDJKKJ
Poetic Form
Metre 111101101 1011010111 11110101011 10100101 101111101 111111011 11110001100 101101 011010111 001110101 010111111 100101 0111111101 0101011111 11111011 011111 1111010001 1011111100 1111011111 111111 1111110101 1101001001 1111110111 011101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 946
Words 180
Sentences 5
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 31
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 250
Words per stanza (avg) 59
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

54 sec read
132

Lucy Maud Montgomery

Lucy Maud Montgomery OBE, called "Maud" by family and friends and publicly known as L. more…

All Lucy Maud Montgomery poems | Lucy Maud Montgomery Books

0 fans

Discuss this Lucy Maud Montgomery poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "While the Fates Sleep" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/26290/while-the-fates-sleep>.

    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!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    11
    days
    7
    hours
    7
    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 wrote "Ode to the West Wind" that inspired a political and moral change?
    A William Shakespeare
    B Sylvia Plath
    C Ted Hughes
    D Percy Shelley