Analysis of Helen All Alone

Rudyard Kipling 1865 (Mumbai) – 1936 (London)



There was darkness under Heaven
For an hour's space--
Darkness that we knew was given
Us for special grace.
Sun and noon and stars were hid,
God had left His Throne,
When Helen came to me, she did,
Helen all alone!

Side by side (because our fate
Damned us ere our birth)
We stole out of Limbo Gate
Looking for the Earth.
Hand in pulling hand amid
Fear no dreams have known,
Helen ran with me, she did,
Helen all alone!

When the Horror passing speech
Hunted us along,
Each laid hold on each, and each
Found the other strong.
In the teeth of Things forbid
And Reason overthrown,
Helen stood by me, she did,
Helen all alone!

When, at last, we heard those Fires
Dull and die away,
When, at last, our linked desires
Dragged us up to day;
When, at last, our souls were rid
Of what that Night had shown,
Helen passed from me, she did,
Helen all alone!

Let her go and find a mate,
As I will find a bride,
Knowing naught of Limbo Gate
Or Who are penned inside.
There is knowledge God forbid
More than one should own.
So Helen went from me, she did,
Oh, my soul, be glad she did!
Helen all alone!


Scheme ababcdcD efefcdcD ghghcdcD ijijcdcD ekekcdccD
Poetic Form
Metre 11101010 11101 10111110 11101 1010101 11111 11011111 10101 11101101 111101 1111101 10101 1010101 11111 1011111 10101 1010101 10101 1111101 10101 0011101 01001 1011111 10101 11111110 10101 111101010 11111 11110101 111111 1011111 10101 1010101 111101 1011101 111101 1110101 11111 11011111 1111111 10101
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 1,054
Words 214
Sentences 12
Stanzas 5
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8, 8, 9
Lines Amount 41
Letters per line (avg) 20
Words per line (avg) 5
Letters per stanza (avg) 166
Words per stanza (avg) 42
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:04 min read
128

Rudyard Kipling

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English short-story writer, poet, and novelist chiefly remembered for his tales and poems of British soldiers in India and his tales for children. more…

All Rudyard Kipling poems | Rudyard Kipling Books

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