Analysis of Stanzas to Love

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



TELL ME, LOVE, when I rove o'er some far distant plain,
Shall I cherish the passion that dwells in my breast?
Or will ABSENCE subdue the keen rigours of pain,
And the swift wing of TIME bring the balsam of rest?

Shall the image of HIM I was born to adore,
Inshrin'd in my bosom my idol still prove?
Or seduced by caprice shall fine feeling no more,
With the incense of TRUTH gem the altar of LOVE?

When I view the deep tint of the dew-dropping Rose,
Where the bee sits enamour'd its nectar to sip;
Then, ah say, will not memory fondly disclose
The softer vermilion that glow'd on HIS lip?

Will the SUN when he rolls in his chariot of fire,
So dazzle my mind with the glare of his rays,
That my senses one moment shall cease to admire
The more perfect refulgence that beam'd in HIS lays?

When the shadows of twilight steal over the plain,
And the NIGHTINGALE pours its lorn plaint in the grove,
Ah! will not the fondness that thrills thro' the strain,
Then recall to my mind HIS dear accents of Love!

When I gaze on the STARS that bespangle the sky,
Ah! will not their mildness some pity inspire;
Like the soul-touching softness that beam'd in HIS eye,
When the tear of REGRET chill'd the flame of DESIRE?

Then spare, thou dear Urchin, thou soother of pain,
Oh! spare the sweet PICTURE engrav'd on my heart;
As a record of LOVE let it ever remain;
My bosom thy tablet­ thy pencil A DART.


Scheme ABAB CXCD EFEF GHIH AXAD JIJG AKAK
Poetic Form Quatrain  (57%)
Metre 1111111011101 111001011011 11100101111 001111101011 101011111101 1011011011 101101111011 100111101011 111011101101 1011111011 111111001001 01001011111 10111101100110 11011101111 111011011101 0101111011 1011111001 001001111001 11101011101 11111111011 1111011101 1111111001 101101011011 1011011011010 1111101111 11011001111 100111111001 11011011001
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 1,373
Words 265
Sentences 13
Stanzas 7
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 28
Letters per line (avg) 38
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 154
Words per stanza (avg) 38
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:21 min read
127

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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