Analysis of Sonnet II: High on a Rock

Mary Darby Robinson 1757 (England) – 1800 (England)



High on a rock, coaeval with the skies,
A Temple stands, rear'd by immortal pow'rs
To Chastity divine! ambrosial flow'rs
Twining round icicles, in columns rise,
Mingling with pendent gems of orient dyes!
Piercing the air, a golden crescent tow'rs,
Veil'd by transparent clouds; while smiling hours
Shake from their varying wings--celestial joys!
The steps of spotless marble, scatter'd o'er
With deathless roses arm'd with many a thorn,
Lead to the altar. On the frozen floor,
Studded with tear-drops petrified by scorn,
Pale vestals kneel the Goddess to adore,
While Love, his arrows broke, retires forlorn.


Scheme AAAAAABCDEFEFE
Poetic Form
Metre 11011101 0101110101 1100010101 1011000101 1001111101 1001010101 11010111010 11110010101 01110101010 1110111001 1101010101 101111011 111010101 1111010101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 603
Words 98
Sentences 6
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 482
Words per stanza (avg) 96
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

31 sec read
55

Mary Darby Robinson

Mary Robinson was an English actress, poet, dramatist, novelist, and celebrity figure. more…

All Mary Darby Robinson poems | Mary Darby Robinson Books

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