Analysis of Song of Innisfail

Thomas Moore 1779 (Dublin) – 1852 (Bromham)



They came from a land beyond the sea,
And now o'er the western main
Set sail, in their good ships, gallantly,
From the sunny land of Spain.
"Oh, where's the isle we've seen in dreams,
Our destined home or grave?"
Thus sung they as, by the morning's beams,
They swept the Atlantic wave.

And lo, where afar o'er ocean shines
A sparkle of radiant green,
As though in that deep lay emerald mines,
Whose light through the wave was seen.
"'Tis Innisfail -- 'tis Innisfail!"
Rings o'er the echoing sea;
While, bending to heaven, the warriors hail
That home of the brave and free.

Then turn'd they unto the Eastern wave,
Where now their Day-God's eye
A look of such sunny omen gave
As lighted up sea and sky.
Nor frown was seen through sky or sea,
Nor tear o'er leaf or sod,
When first on their Isle of Destiny
Our great forefathers trod.


Scheme ABABCDCD EFEFGAGA DHDHAIAI
Poetic Form
Metre 111010101 01100101 110111100 1010111 11011101 1010111 111110101 1100101 0110110101 01011001 110111101 1110111 1111 11001001 11011001001 1110101 111100101 111111 011110101 1101101 11111111 1110111 111111100 101101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 837
Words 158
Sentences 9
Stanzas 3
Stanza Lengths 8, 8, 8
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 26
Words per line (avg) 6
Letters per stanza (avg) 211
Words per stanza (avg) 51
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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

49 sec read
44

Thomas Moore

Thomas Moore was an Irish poet singer songwriter and entertainer now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and the The Last Rose of Summer more…

All Thomas Moore poems | Thomas Moore Books

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