Analysis of Sonnet V: Nothing But No

Michael Drayton 1563 (Hartshill) – 1631 (London)



Nothing but "No," and "Aye," and "Aye," and "No"?
How falls it out so strangely you reply?
I tell ye, Fair, I'll not be answer'd so,
With this affirming "No," denying "Aye."
I say, "I love," you slightly answer "Aye";
I say, "You love," you pule me out a "No";
I say, "I die," you echo me an "Aye";
"Save me," I cry, you sigh me out a "No";
Must woe and I have nought but "No" and "Aye"?
No I am I, if I no more can have;
Answer no more, with silence make reply,
And let me take myself what I do crave.
Let "No" and "Aye" with I and you be so;
Then answer "No," and "Aye," and "Aye" and "No."


Scheme ABABBABABCBDAA
Poetic Form
Metre 1011010101 1111110101 1111111101 1101010101 1111110101 1111111101 1111110111 1111111101 1101111101 1111111111 1011110101 011111111 1101110111 1101010101
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 600
Words 138
Sentences 7
Stanzas 1
Stanza Lengths 14
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 9
Letters per stanza (avg) 391
Words per stanza (avg) 124
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

38 sec read
119

Michael Drayton

Michael Drayton was an English poet who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. more…

All Michael Drayton poems | Michael Drayton Books

0 fans

Discuss this Michael Drayton poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

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

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Sonnet V: Nothing But No" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/28128/sonnet-v%3A-nothing-but-no>.

    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!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    3
    hours
    52
    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?

    »
    Which author is considered to be Scotland’s national poet?
    A Robert Burns
    B Danny Boyle
    C Edwin Morgan
    D Robert Louis Stevenson