Analysis of The Mower's Song

Andrew Marvell 1621 (Winestead) – 1678 (London)



My Mind was once the true survey
Of all these Medows fresh and gay;
And in the greenness of the Grass
Did see its Hopes as in a Glass;
When Juliana came, and she
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.

But these, while I with Sorrow pine,
Grew more luxuriant still and fine;
That not one Blade of Grass you spy'd,
But had a Flower on either side;
When Juliana came, and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.

Unthankful Meadows, could you so
A fellowship so true forego,
And in your gawdy May-games meet,
While I lay trodden under feet?
When Juliana came , and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.

But what you in Compassion ought,
Shall now by my Revenge be wrought:
And Flow'rs, and Grass, and I and all,
Will in one common Ruine fall.
For Juliana comes, and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.

And thus, ye Meadows, which have been
Companions of my thoughts more green,
Shall now the Heraldry become
With which I shall adorn my Tomb;
For Juliana comes, and She
What I do to the Grass, does to my Thoughts and Me.


Scheme aabbCC ddeeCC ffeecC eeggCC xxxxCC
Poetic Form Etheree  (23%)
Metre 11110101 1111101 00010101 11111001 1010101 111101111101 11111101 110100101 11111111 110101101 1010101 111101111101 11111 0101101 0011111 11110101 1010101 111101111101 11100101 11110111 01010101 1011011 1010101 111101111101 0111111 01011111 11010001 11110111 1010101 111101111101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,062
Words 218
Sentences 8
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 6, 6, 6, 6, 6
Lines Amount 30
Letters per line (avg) 28
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 166
Words per stanza (avg) 43
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:06 min read
120

Andrew Marvell

Andrew Marvell was an English metaphysical poet, satirist and politician who sat in the House of Commons at various times between 1659 and 1678. During the Commonwealth period he was a colleague and friend of John Milton. more…

All Andrew Marvell poems | Andrew Marvell Books

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