Analysis of Long Plighted

Thomas Hardy 1840 (Stinsford) – 1928 (Dorchester, Dorset)



Is it worth while, dear, now,
To call for bells, and sally forth arrayed
For marriage-rites -- discussed, decried, delayed
   So many years?

Is it worth while, dear, now,
To stir desire for old fond purposings,
By feints that Time still serves for dallyings,
   Though quittance nears?

Is it worth while, dear, when
The day being so far spent, so low the sun,
The undone thing will soon be as the done,
   And smiles as tears?

Is it worth while, dear, when
Our cheeks are worn, our early brown is gray;
When, meet or part we, none says yea or nay,
   Or heeds, or cares?

Is it worth while, dear, since
We still can climb old Yell'ham's wooded mounds
Together, as each season steals its rounds
   And disappears?

Is it worth while, dear, since
As mates in Mellstock churchyard we can lie,
Till the last crash of all things low and high
   Shall end the spheres?


Scheme Abbc Accc Deef Dggf Hiic Hjjc
Poetic Form
Metre 111111 1111010101 1101010101 1101 111111 110101111 11111111 111 111111 01101111101 0011111101 0111 111111 101111010111 1111111111 1111 111111 111111101 0101110111 001 111111 11011111 1011111101 1101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 883
Words 158
Sentences 7
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 27
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 108
Words per stanza (avg) 26
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 29, 2023

48 sec read
93

Thomas Hardy

Thomas Hardy, was not a Scottish Minister, not a Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland nor a Professor of Eccesiastical History at Edinburgh University. more…

All Thomas Hardy poems | Thomas Hardy Books

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