Analysis of Sonnet XXI: Why Do I Live

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



Why do I live to loath the cheerful day,
To shun the smiles of Fame, and mark the hours
On tardy pinions move, while ceaseless show'rs
Down my wan cheek in lucid currents stray?
My tresses all abound, nor gems display,
Nor scents Arabian! on my path no flow'rs
Imbibe the morn's resuscitating pow'rs,
For one blank sorrow, saddens all my way!
As slow the radiant Sun of reason rose,
Through tears my dying parents saw it shine;
A brother's frailties, swell'd the tide of woes,-
And, keener far, maternal griefs were mine!
Phaon! if soon these weary eyes shall close,
Oh! must that task, that mournful task, be thine?


Scheme ABBAABBACDCDED
Poetic Form
Metre 1111110101 11011101010 110111101 1111010101 1101011101 11010011111 010101001 1111010111 11010011101 1111010111 0101010111 0101010101 111110111 1111110111
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 611
Words 113
Sentences 8
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 34
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 477
Words per stanza (avg) 110
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

35 sec read
61

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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