Analysis of Wha Is That At My Bower-Door

Robert Burns 1759 (Alloway) – 1796 (Dumfries)



'Wha is that at my bower-door?'
'O wha is it but Findlay!'
'Then gae your gate, ye'se nae be here:'
'Indeed maun I,' quo' Findlay;
'What mak' ye, sae like a thief?'
'O come and see,' quo' Findlay;
'Before the morn ye'll work mischief:'
'Indeed will I,' quo' Findlay.

'Gif I rise and let you in'-
'Let me in,' quo' Findlay;
'Ye'll keep me waukin wi' your din;'
'Indeed will I,' quo' Findlay;
'In my bower if ye should stay'-
'Let me stay,' quo' Findlay;
'I fear ye'll bide till break o' day;'
'Indeed will I,' quo' Findlay.

'Here this night if ye remain'-
'I'll remain,' quo' Findlay;
'I dread ye'll learn the gate again;'
'Indeed will I,' quo' Findlay.
'What may pass within this bower'-
'Let it pass,' quo' Findlay;
'Ye maun conceal till your last hour:'
'Indeed will I,' quo' Findlay.


Scheme xaxaxaxA babAcacA xaxAdadA
Poetic Form
Metre 11111101 1111110 111111111 0111110 1111101 1101110 01011110 0111110 1110110 110110 1111111 0111110 01101111 111110 11111111 0111110 1111101 101110 11110101 0111110 11101110 111110 110111110 0111110
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 794
Words 165
Sentences 8
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 22
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 179
Words per stanza (avg) 48
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 18, 2023

46 sec read
152

Robert Burns

Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist. more…

All Robert Burns poems | Robert Burns Books

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